Housing board residents shying away from paying taxes may face serious trouble post-Diwali as Chhattisgarh Housing Board has decided to disconnect the water supply line and stop sanitation work in its colonies across the state.
“Officials said that Rs 46.29 crore tax is pending from housing board residents and those failing to clear their tax before Diwali will be deprived of water supply and other basic facilities. The housing board is unable to carry out development works in the colonies and complete its pending projects due to fund shortage and evasion of tax by the housing board residents,” Dharmesh Sahu, Housing Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said.
Most housing board residents have not been regular in paying water tax, common maintenance tax, land maintenance charge, among others, leading to financial crisis in the housing board.
“There are a total of 89 colonies of the housing board in the state which house 85,000 beneficiaries. The housing board charges the residents for providing basic facilities. Rs 1835.52 lakh water tax, Rs 1723.61 lakh land maintenance charge and Rs 1069.55 other taxes are pending,” the CEO said, adding that an online system is being developed for the payment of the taxes for the convenience of the residents.
The CEO further said that the residents have been repeatedly issued notices, but in vain. “Now teams of officials will ensure the recovery of the taxes. List of the defaulters are being prepared and action on them will be initiated after the Diwali festival,” the CEO said.