Agartala, July 6: The Agartala Municipal Council has decided to raise property tax in areas under its jurisdiction from 7 per cent to 12 per cent with restrospective effect from April this year to mobilise addiitonal resources.

The AMC authority had earlier passed the current fiscal’s budget of Rs 283 crore without imposing any new tax and duties.

However, yesterday’s increase of 5 per cent in property tax, which will affect more than 4 lakh residents of AMC areas, has sparked serious resentment among residents.

Leader of the Opposition Ratanlal Nath decribed it as “7th Left Front’s declaration of war on the people living in AMC areas”.

He threatened a statewide agitation to protest the hike as well as to press for its withdrawal.

However, AMC chairperson Prafullajit Sinha justified the hike, saying the rise had been effected after long three decades during which everything has become costlier.