Junagadh civic body’s tax collection drive raises eyebrows

According to Karena,the said tax was imposed by the state government and goes to the government treasury. “It seems that the civic body was not at all interested in collecting the said tax on behalf of the state government. Besides,28 years is a long time and thus the tax dues will naturally come out to be very high,” he said. “The total due amount of education tax to be collected from citizens is Rs 11.67 crore” he added.

Mahendra Mashru,BJP MLA and former mayor of JMC,said: “It is quite unfair to collect such a huge amount at one go. Citizens should be provided relief in paying the tax,” he said.

Raising questions over why the tax was not collected for 28 years,

Mashru has now demanded a departmental inquiry into the matter.

“The citizens would not have been facing the present situation if tax collection was made on a regular basis in the past. Either the tax be waived completely or an amicable solution be tabled immediately,” he said. “I have written a letter to JMC commissioner in this regard and demanded the waiver of the tax or the provision of an installment facility for the payment of the due tax,” he added.