Pay Rs 1 lakh more this Diwali: MCD to flat owners

In the festive season, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has dealt out a real dampener for Delhiites.

In the festive season, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has dealt out a real dampener for Delhiites.

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It wants as much as a crore from each group housing society in the city - which averages out to about a lakh for every home in these 500-odd societies. Even guard rooms, clubhouses, community centres and swimming pools inside the society will be taxed.

The group housing societies have been served property tax arrear notices by the MCD. The civic agency collects property tax from house owners every year.

The MCD says that property tax has to be paid from the time the land for flats was allotted. Which means that if a society took four years to allot flats, even than period will be taxed.

"Each society collectively owes us between Rs 1-1.25 crore. Even societies caught in legal battles will not be spared," said SA Khan, assessor and collector, MCD.

The money has to be paid by the next month.

The cash strapped MCD is hoping to earn Rs 400 crore through this exercise.

The societies that have been served such notices claim they are being targeted.

"The MCD has not updated its record and flat owners who have already paid this amount are also being harassed," said SR Sangar, general secretary of IP Extension Part II.