Kashmir Digits

Jammu & Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that genuine suggestions of the public on imposition of property tax in Jammu & Kashmir would be considered.

Addressing a news conference in Jammu, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sinha said that suggestions submitted by the people would be analysed and those found genuine would be considered.

The LG said that Jammu & Kashmir was the last state/UT to impose property tax and the rates in the UT are much lower than the rates applicable in cities of neighbouring States. “If we compare the rates with Shimla, Chandigarh and Dehradun, these are less than 1/10th of the rates applicable in these cities,” he said, adding that 40 percent people living in urban areas of J&K are exempted from paying property taxes.

“There are 520000 houses in urban areas of Jammu & Kashmir. Out of them, 206000 are exempted from property tax,” he said.

He said that 203600 houses would have to pay a maximum Rs 1000 per annum as property tax in certain areas of Srinagar and Jammu. “If we look at other towns, they will have to pay Rs 600, Rs 500 per year,” he said.

It is worthwhile to mention that the J & K administration has sought feedback from the general public over imposition of property tax in the Union Territory.