GHMC’s property tax waiver- an election stunt?

The standing committee of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation which is nearing the end of its term had flashed a beautiful trap on the voters. The committeee has recommended the government to waive property tax up to Rs 4,000 per annum for residential properties and recommended a nominal fee of 10, 25 Rupees to be collected going further.

This move if cleared will mean 8 lakh property tax payers, of the total 13.5 lakh in GHMC limits need not pay any tax and it will result in Rs 150 crore revenue loss per year to the corporation. However this move of the GHMC turns to be a farce as the Corporation itself do not have the right to waive of the tax or recommend the government to do so.

This announcement by the standing committee will any way ignored by the Government but the corporation can always claim that it has tried to benefit people. However this decision taken by the Mayor belonging to MIM will paint its ally TRS in poor light (if it turns down the idea). It is already known that TRS and MIM are most likely to contest together in the upcoming GHMC elections.