By IANS
Jaipur : Despite strong opposition from various quarters, the Rajasthan government is planning to go ahead with a new property tax in the urban areas of the state from August.
The new tax is being levied as an alternative to the house tax, which was abolished in January.
Abolition of house tax was one of the promises made in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto released at the time of the assembly elections in 2003.
Sources said the state’s urban development department had already prepared a proposal in this regard and the chief minister’s approval was expected soon.
The opposition Congress has decided to oppose any move to impose this tax.
Pratap Singh Khachriawas, a Congress leader, said his party would never allow imposition of the property tax in the state.
“BJP in its election manifesto had assured to abolish house tax, succumbing to pressure finally they did, but now again with a new name they are trying to re-introduce it. They are trying to fool people. No one would accept it,” he said.
“If the BJP government brings this tax, the Congress will launch a state wide agitation against it.”
In the new proposal, the government plans to impose the tax on residential plots of 300 square-yards or more, flats of over 1,500 square-feet and commercial areas of 100 square-yards or more.
Swimming pools, lawn and ladders in multi-storeyed houses would not be taken into account while calculating the tax, sources said.