UT Council takes up key issues today

House tax, linking vehicle purchase with availability of parking space on agenda

Chandigarh, February 8
The cost of living in the city would increase if the UT Administration’s advisory council gives green light to pass key proposals like the imposition of house tax and purchase of vehicles only with the availability of parking space with the buyers. The advisory council meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, will discuss these proposals and give its clearance for their implementation.

Sources in the Administration revealed that in view of increasing vehicles in the city, the authorities had come up with the recommendation that the buyers had to prove beforehand that they had parking space before the purchase of vehicle. Officials said as there was an acute shortage of parking space in commercial and residential areas in the city, this proposal had been mooted by the authorities.

The MC is also planning to increase the parking fee five times to manage the heavy rush of vehicles in commercial parking lots.

A senior official of the UT Administration said the Municipal Corporation authorities had been avoiding imposing house tax for the past two years for which a number of reminders had been given to them. The official said under the JNNRUM, the MC would have to impose 2 per cent of house tax to avail the grant-in-aid for a number of ongoing projects, but the MC had not tabled the issue in the General House meeting so far. The proposal of imposing house tax would also be discussed at the meeting.

The tax structure in the city reflects in the living standards. Chandigarh has a high per capita income, so it should be expected to pay a viable tax, said a resident of Sector 7.

Officials said the council would also finalise the decision about the construction of under passes, multi-level parking, mass rapid transport system and master plan of the city.

Sources said the authorities were thinking about preparing a report about the comparative study of a number of vehicles and the capacity of the roads of the city.

Officials said for the propagation of solar energy in the city, theauthorities would also table the solar city project to maximise the use of solar energy by the department concerned of the UT Administration. It would also earmark land for the setting up of infrastructure for solar plants.