Jammu- Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday that the land retrieved by his administration during a massive anti-encroachment drive across Jammu and Kashmir will be used for creating public infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and sports facilities.
“No poor will be touched during anti encroachment drives but no influential encroacher will be spared. The encroached land retrieved by the government will be utilized for the welfare of common man and schools, colleges, hospitals, sports facilities will be developed on the retrieved land,” Sinha said.
He also urged people not to fall prey to the certain vested interests spreading false information and creating misconceptions around anti-encroachment drives, power generation and property tax.
The LG also shared the facts in detail regarding the imposition of property tax in the UT and said that the tax in Jammu and Kashmir is the lowest as compared to other states of the country.
“There are around 5, 20,000 houses in cities of J&K. Out of these, 2,06,000 houses are less than 1000 sq ft and no tax is being imposed on them. No tax on 40% of the people living in cities, in rural and on religious places. 2,03,600 houses are less than 1500 sq ft and 80% of these households will have to pay less than Rs 600 per annum. This amount is one-tenth of the tax amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun,” he said.
“46,000 out of 1, 01, 000 shops in city areas are less than 100 sq ft and they will have to pay upto Rs 700 per annum. Out of these 46,000 shops, 80% will have to pay a meager Rs 600 per annum/ Rs 50 per month. 30,000 shops will have to pay taxes below Rs 2000 per annum and out of these, 20,000 will have to pay less than Rs 1500 which is also one-tenth of the amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun,” he added.
The LG maintained that the revenue generated through property tax will directly go to the accounts of municipalities and corporations. This step, he said, has been taken to make the cities an engine of growth.
Sinha also invited suggestions from all sections of the society with regard to better arrangement in property tax.
“Our doors are open. Everyone must come forward in making J&K a dynamic and developed region of the country,” he added.
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