For the first time after Jammu and Kashmir was declared Union Territory (UT) officials on October 31, the areas falling under Badami Bagh Cantonment Board have been shot with bills by the Board asking them to pay the property tax up to the tune of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000.According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the move has triggered a massive resentment among the residents of areas that include Athwajan, Indhira Nagar, Shivapora, Palpora and parts of Sonwar as they fall under Cantonment Board. A group of locals approached wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) along with the bills shot to them by the Board. They alleged the decision of Board to seek property tax is shocking as there are no facilities in their respective areas that deserve tax. “We don’t know what for we are asked to pay property tax. Some Board officials say that Pondicherry model is being followed but in Pondicherry, there is hi-tech drainage system, municipal facilities including garbage lifting etc while in our areas, reverse is the case. We have ill planned drainage, improper garbage disposal and above all non-availability of dustbins,” they alleged.
One of the aggrieved resident of Indhria Nagar, wishing not to be named, while displaying the bill shot to him on November 12 by the Cantonment Board, said he failed to understand the details of the bill. “My bill reads that annual rateable value is Rs 88,920 and annual property tax at the rate of 10 per cent of annual rateable value which is Rs 8892,” said Riyaz Ahmed (name changed). The other members of the group also echoed similar views.The residents of areas falling under Cantonment Board said that the Board has failed to explain as to why prompted them to issue bills to the residents at a time when Kashmir has been under tight grip of economic crisis since August 5.Talking to KNO, a senior official at the Cantonment Board said that they simply followed the rules with J&K being a UT. “We follow rules and directions from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and there is nothing wrong in sending bills to residents seeking property tax. All the basic facilities are provided to these areas by the Board and all the facilities be that civic or other are being provided by the Board. So the bills issued to the residents stand fully justified,” the officials said, pleading anonymity. (KNO)