Soon,property tax rebate for soldiers,ex-servicemen

Shiv Sena corporator from Chembur Rajiv Chougule said reduction in property tax for retired and serving personnel in the Army,Navy and the Air Force is good way to show respect towards them.

“This is the least we can do to appreciate their efforts and sacrifices. In some unfortunate cases where families lose their members on the war front,such a rebate will help them financially,” said Chougule.

Accordingly,the assessment and collection department of the BMC has agreed to look into the possibilities of implementing such a move. “We have received requests from corporators and various Army associations. Such a scheme already exists in other municipalities and in some states. A rebate of minimum 30 per cent can be worked out as that would not affect our collection significantly,” said an official from the ANC department.

The BMC said it could exempt armed forces personnel from paying of general tax and fire tax that comprise up to 30 per cent of the total property tax.

The proposal will now await nod from the civic standing committee and eventually the state government before it gets implemented.