Panvel News: Residents And Political Parties Launch Mass Protest Over Property Tax Grievances Against PMC

Panvel: A large-scale protest march was organised by a coalition of political parties including the Peasants and Workers Party, Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray bloc), MNS, AAP, SP, and members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alongside various social forums and organisations.

The march held on Wednesday, started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to the Panvel Municipal Corporation office held in the morning, demanded a true waiver of property taxes and not merely relief from interest or penalties.

Demand for True Tax Waiver

Protesters accused the municipal authorities of confusing the public by offering a "penalty waiver" (known locally as 'shasti chhutti'), rather than waiving the actual property tax. They highlighted that this leaves homeowners burdened with the principal tax even if penalties are dropped.

Calls for Rates Matching Infrastructure

Some of grievances voiced were the reason for “D-class” corporation, levying property taxes similar to “A-class” cities like Mumbai and Thane, despite lacking comparable infrastructure and amenities.

Disparity in Tax Treatment Highlighted

Question were raised on the alleged waiver given to the Local Body Tax on the steel market , whereas ordinary citizens are offered penalty relief under temporary schemes." why this disparity?" Questioned the protestors.

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It was further stated that property tax at Navi Mumbai was treated at gram panchayat rates for two decades, with homes up to 500 sqm exempt. "so why are Panvel's newly formed municipal limits imposing much higher rates? " said a protestor.