The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) has extended the deadline for payment of property tax to June 30.
The property tax bills are issued once in a year and the owners have to pay the tax before March 31. However, due to the lockdown and financial turmoil due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the civic administration has decided to extend the deadline.
Sanjay Bhosale, property tax superintendent, said, “During the lockdown we don’t expect people to make tax payment. We have received directions from the state government to provide relief to the people in whatever way possible. Many owners have called us and said that they are facing financial crisis and are unable to pay the tax. Currently, 60% of target has been achieved and little delay in payment will not make much difference.”
He added, “The citizens are demanding tax holiday for couple of months. However, a decision regarding this has to be taken by the general body which cannot be called owing to lockdown.”
Meanwhile city MLA Chandrakant Jadhav has demanded waiver in property tax, water tax, estate fees and license fees. He has submitted a petition of his demands to civic chief Mallinath Kalshetti after a meeting at district collector’s office on Sunday evening.
“The source of revenue for citizens and traders has stopped due to the lockdown. We have to take measures to provide relief without considering any financial loss. For property tax, the deadline has been extended. I, however, have demanded to waive all taxes at least during the lockdown period and no forceful collection of taxes should be carried out,” said Jadhav.
