Speaking to reporters here, Dnyaneshwar Bhalerao, chairman, standing committee, said that the committee had approved a resolution to keep the rates of general and other taxes unchanged.

Explaining the reason for rejecting the tax hike, Bhalerao said, "The civic administration had proposed a hike of around 21 per cent in the general tax and charging new taxes like a road tax. There is a general demand that taxes should not be hiked."

He stated that the PCMC has already hiked the water charges. While some people have received exorbitant water bills, others have received inaccurate bills as a result of which corporators were facing the heat. "The 21 per cent hike proposed by the administration is unjust and will put an additional burden on the public, which is already reeling under the impact of rising inflation. Hence, we have taken the decision not to hike taxes or impose new taxes on the public," he explained. Last week Bhalerao had suggested the civic administration hold an all-party meeting to discuss the tax hike proposal but no meeting has taken place.

Source: Times Of India PCMC standing committee rejects hike in general tax