CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, May 13: The Jharkhand government has come up with a new holding tax regime in which the residents will pay an additional tax that will range between 15 to 25 percent.
However, this decision by the state government has been criticized by certain officials as well as the residents of Ranchi. The decision will affect the small-time traders who are already under heavy losses.
The commercial buildings in the city will have to pay holding tax which will be four times more than the current one.
Sanjay Lakhani, one of the builders and small-time traders from Ranchi, said that the decision to increase the holding tax is not at all acceptable and should be changed.
“People are already in losses after the pandemic and now with this increased holding tax, it is just adding up to the pressure of the common man. If we will pay so much tax then nothing will be saved in the end,” he said.
Similarly, Arun Khemka, life member of JSIA also shared his disbelief and said that people are being looted by the government.
“No matter what you do, you have to pay tax in this country. The new regime of holding tax is a joke on the common man because he will have to pay the holding tax even if he has to sell his car, household stuff or his clothes,” Khemka said.
However, despite the new holding tax regime, many residents were seen at the RMC counter to pay the holding tax. As of now, there has been no protest by the residents about the increased rate of tax.
Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijaywargia on Thursday also criticized the decision to increase the holding tax and claimed that the levying had already begun in the city without any prior information to the RMC.
Under the new regime, the rate will be determined according to the circle rates fixed by the government and will vary from ward to ward whereas earlier it was determined as per the area.
On Thursday, taxes worth Rs. 18 lakh were levied as per the sources from the RMC.
