Seeking the waiver of property tax and water tax, Congress councillor Gurinder Singh Rishi has decided to forego his salary for five years amounting to Rs. 7.50 lakh.
In a letter to the municipal commissioner, Rishi has urged the other councillors, mayor, deputy mayor and senior deputy mayor to follow his example in the interest of residents of the city.

"I am sacrificing my salary in the interest of the people of my ward, who are burdened by property and water taxes," he said.

Rishi said that presently he was alone in his efforts to get property and water taxes waived, but hoped to garner support from other councillors. "I appeal to the newly elected councillors, mayor, deputy mayor and senior deputy mayor to support me by sacrificing their salaries in the interest of the people of Amritsar, who are already reeling under heavy taxes," he said.

Rishi said the salary of the mayor for five years was Rs. 19.2 lakh, that of senior deputy mayor Rs. 14.4 lakh, deputy mayor Rs. 12 lakh and councillors Rs. 4.65 lakh.

"The total comes to about Rs. 5.15 crore for five years. If this amount is deposited in the MC's coffers and the taxes are waived, it can be an important milestone in the history of the MC," he said.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora told HT that the MC was charging property tax in place of house tax. "The matter will be discussed with other councillors," he said.