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Property dealers stage protest, threaten to go on hunger strike today
The rise in circle rates evoked sharp reaction in Faridabad with property dealers and some political parties staging protests at the mini secretariat in sector 12 on Tuesday. Prabhu Razdan reports.
The rise in circle rates evoked sharp reaction in Faridabad with property dealers and some political parties staging protests at the mini secretariat in sector 12 on Tuesday.
The property dealers apprehend that the massive hike (about two to five times from the previous rates) in circle rates will not only affect the demand but would also adversely affect the revenue generation for the state.
"We started the protest on Monday and it will continue till the government revokes circle rates announced a few days ago," said Baljeet Singh, president, Faridabad Estates Agents Welfare Association (FEAWA).
"In order to intensify our agitation, we have decided to go on a hunger strike from Wednesday," Singh added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists under the leadership of Haryana BJP chief Krishenpal Gujjar also held protest demonstration against the hike in circle rates. "We warn the state government to immediately revoke the circle rates otherwise BJP will be compelled to intensify agitation," said Ajay Gaur, the party president for Faridabad.
Justifying the hike, Faridabad district collector Praveen Kumar said, "Hiking circle rates is one of the ways of generating revenue for the state." Kumar also added, "The hike is aimed at moving closer to market rates. However, we are open for discussion on the issue."
The hike in circle rates have also adversely affected in the number of property registrations that are done every day. "On Monday, only a few registrations took place and about 30 to 45 registrations took place on Tuesday," the official sources said.
Before the hike, around 150 to 200 property registrations were done every day at the tehsil office in Faridabad.
