RMC Commissioner proposes new taxes following octroi abolition

Rajkot, Jan 31 (UNI) Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Arti Kanwar has proposed a 100 per cent hike in water charges for residential as well as commercial connections while presenting a Rs 409 crore budget for the financial year 2008-2009.

It is proposed to hike the water charges from Rs 50 to Rs 100 per month for residential connections and from Rs 100 to Rs 200 for commercial connections.

The Commissioner has also proposed hike in various taxes to the tune of Rs 20 crore, including a newly-introduced streetlight tax as per the JNNURM guidelines. The new taxes have been introduced since octroi, the main source of revenue, has been abolished, the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner has proposed an increase in fire tax. For low-rise, high-rise and commercial units, the current fire tax is 1.5 per cent of the property tax and it is proposed to increase this to 2.5 per cent.

The budget has also made provisions for two flyovers, model roads, and bus rapid transit system.

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