Robin Bordoloi talks to mediapersons at the GMC office on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Nov. 20: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation today decided to implement its order of increasing property tax despite public opposition.

GMC chief administrator Robin Bordoloi told reporters that the new rate of property tax assessment had been fixed on the basis of the 2003 land valuation notification issued by the Kamrup district administration.

He said as there was no negative response to the notification, the corporation decided to fix the new rate of property rate on its basis.

“The burden of tax on residents will not be much, as alleged by the NGOs and a section of the public. Since property tax is calculated on the value of land and property, the tax will obviously go up with the corresponding increase in the value of land and property in the city. Till recently, the GMC was collecting property tax on the basis of the land valuation conducted two decades ago. The new property tax for different households in different areas is being calculated and notices are being sent to the residents. The property tax for prime and busy areas like Panbazar, Fancy Bazar, Lakhtokia, Dispur and Ganeshguri will vary from the interior areas,” Bordoloi said.

Various NGOs and nagarik samitis have accused the GMC of “unilaterally increasing” property tax and have demanded a rollback of the hike.

Bordoloi said the GMC had not received outstanding property tax to the tune of Rs 70 crore from many residents, but, unlike the Assam State Electricity Board and the telephone department, had not stopped its service to them.

“So the residents must co-operate with the GMC. The property tax was hiked to garner more revenue and this would help the civic body to offer more service to the residents,” the corporation’s chief administrator said.

The GMC is expected to garner revenue to the tune of Rs 90 crore annually from property tax after the hike.