In an attempt to generate awareness in Rajasthan residents, Jaipur city mayor Ashok Lahoti paid the outstanding UD tax (Urban Development) that was due on his residential property near Gopalpura bypass. This Wednesday, the mayor personally visited JMC (Jaipur Municipal Corporation) headquarters to deposit Rs 96,628 via cheque. Investigations revealed that the UD tax on his property wasn’t calculated correctly. This irked the mayor, who paid the outstanding amount and requested JMC to refund the difference.
For those who don’t know, UD or Urban Development tax was a substitute to house tax, introduced by the Rajasthan government in 2000. It replaced the house tax in urban regions. The UD was levied on houses, flats, constructed areas and unutilised lands falling under the jurisdiction of municipalities, municipal councils and municipal corporations in Rajasthan. The agricultural lands were exempted from the tax under Rajasthan Municipality Act of 1959.
All property owners who own flats of more than 1,500 square feet, residential plots measuring over 300 square yards and commercial plots measuring over 100 square yards have to pay UD taxes on their property.
Recently, the JMC administration had issued an ultimatum to 1.26 lakh defaulters. About 695 defaulters have over Rs 5 lakh due on their property. The JMC will soon block the sewer connection of the defaulters who fail to pay the taxes.
Mayor Lahoti’s family owns two plots of size 325 square yards each. However, the tax was calculated on 1900 square feet area (at commercial rates). This is why Lahoti was there to rectify the error. Generally, the JMC issues a notice to tax defaulters, in case they fail to pay taxes on their property. Despite Lahoti falling in the residential bracket of the tax category, he didn’t receive any notification.
Therefore, Lahoti took this step to make the residents aware of tax payment criteria. He feels this move will encourage other tax payers in the city, as well.
