Correcting Discrepancies in Property Tax is Essential: Sao

Raipur, September 4

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Administration and Development, Mr. Arun Sao, held a meeting today focused on rationalizing property taxes in urban local bodies. The virtual meeting, held at the Ministry (Mahanadi Bhawan), was attended by Mayors and Commissioners of all Municipal Corporations in the state, along with Presidents and Chief Municipal Officers (CMOs) of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. Joining Mr. Sao at the ministry were Urban Administration Secretary Dr. Basavaraju S. and Director Mr. R. Ekka.

In the meeting, Deputy CM Mr. Arun Sao emphasized that the image of the state is shaped by the functioning of its urban local bodies. Providing better facilities to citizens is the responsibility of the respective urban bodies. He told the mayors and other heads of urban bodies that the responsibility of taking the city forward lies with them. He urged them to begin the process of property tax assessment and reforms starting from their own offices and homes.

Mr. Sao stressed that updating the Annual Rental Value (ARV) in line with current property prices will lead to a significant increase in revenue. This will also ensure that the tax burden is distributed proportionally among all property owners. Increased revenue will help urban bodies become financially self-reliant, reducing dependence on grants. The additional income will enable quicker and improved delivery of civic amenities to citizens.

The Deputy CM directed urban bodies to align with the state government’s vision of providing transparent and seamless services to citizens through e-governance models. This is crucial for holistic urban development and timely delivery of services. He said this would also enhance cleanliness, water supply, and electricity distribution systems in cities.

Mr. Sao pointed out that no reforms have been made in the property tax system since 2016, leading to discrepancies in many urban bodies. He urged all mayors and chairpersons to undertake property tax reforms with sincerity and seriousness.

During the meeting, Mr. Sao also instructed urban bodies to accelerate the construction of Atal Complexes and Nalanda Complexes, ensuring all construction projects are completed on time and with good quality. He advised senior officials and public representatives to conduct daily morning inspections of construction and cleanliness works. He also warned that any negligence or irregularities in the tender process would lead to strict action against the responsible parties.

Also present in the meeting were Dr. Renuka Srivastava (Deputy Secretary, Urban Administration Department), Mr. Shashank Pandey (CEO, State Urban Development Agency – SUDA), and Mr. Pulak Bhattacharya (Additional Director, Urban Administration Department).