Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday said the government “derives no pleasure” in increasing the property tax, but was under compulsion to do it.
“Otherwise we will not get funds for the local bodies. The hike, however, will not affect 83% of the people in the urban areas. That is why the media also supports the hike in property tax,” he said, responding to a special calling attention motion moved by the Opposition parties in the Legislative Assembly.
The principal opposition party, AIADMK, led by former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami staged a walkout, alleging that the DMK had failed in its promise that it would not increase the property tax.
The Chief Minister said that earlier [during the AIADMK regime] elections were not held to the local bodies and the welfare schemes remained stagnant. “Since local bodies, including the Municipal Corporations, faced revenue deficit, they were not able to implement even the basic works for the people. It was a testing time for the local bodies,” he said.
Pointing out that elected representatives of the local bodies from all political parties expected funds from the government, Mr. Stalin contended the government had increased the tax in a manner that would not affect the poor and those who were in the lower rungs of the society.
“Since the government does not want to burden the people, it has come up with a scheme to increase the tax depending on the area of the building,” he said.
He called upon the members of the Assembly to stand by the decision of the government to implement development projects and people welfare schemes through the local bodies.
“I request you to support us in the interest of the overall development of the State. Do not play politics when it comes to the development of the State,” he added. Earlier, Municipal Administration Minister K.N. Nehru said the property tax in Tamil Nadu was not higher when compared to other States.
