Kolkata, Oct. 8 -- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has introduced a fresh waiver scheme to help property owners clear long-pending tax dues, shortly after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's announcement on the issue.
KMC administrator and municipal commissioner Smita Pandey announced the scheme at a press conference on Thursday. The scheme will remain in force until March 2027 and may be extended by another two months if required.
According to KMC figures, 3,86,288 taxpayers currently have outstanding property tax dues amounting to Rs 6,854.29 crore. The outstanding amount also includes Rs 401.38 crore in penalties and Rs 3,314.13 crore in interest. The civic body has set a target of recovering Rs 784 crore through the waiver scheme.
The extent of relief will vary according to the category of property. Government properties will receive a 100 per cent waiver, while eligible private properties can get relief of up to 99 per cent. Both residential and commercial properties will be covered, subject to the prescribed conditions.
Pandey said interest calculations had been made up to September. Taxpayers clearing their dues within the stipulated period will therefore be able to avail substantial relief on interest and penalties.
The scheme can be accessed online by scanning a QR code, while an offline facility will also be available.
The timing of the latest initiative has drawn criticism from opposition parties, which have alleged that its launch ahead of the Kolkata civic polls in the last week of November could benefit the ruling BJP.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.