India, Feb. 13 -- With a proposed hike in property tax set to come up before the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) general body, political parties are treading cautiously and have so far refrained from taking a public stand on the issue.

Municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has approved a five per cent increase in property tax and placed the proposal before the general body scheduled to meet on February 18. This will be the first general body meeting of the newly elected members following the mayoral election, and the decision is seen as politically sensitive.

Ram said the administration had initially suggested a 10 per cent hike. "During the standing committee meeting, I approved a five per cent increase and forwarded the proposal t...