Sena backtracks on promise, citizens to pay more water tax
Raises no objection to hike proposal in BMC meet, snubs Congress
Ruling Shiv Sena in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had promised in its election manifesto that if their coporators are elected, then citizens will not have to pay more for water tax.
However, it has backtracked on its promise and raised ‘no objection’ to the new water tax which would be levied by BMC from June 16.
In fact the Sena rejected the suggestion of opposition Congress to reopen the 2012 proposal, which allows the corporation to increase water tax by eight per cent at the most every year.
In 2012, members of BMC’s Standing Committee had passed the resolution to hike the tax.
Sena’s ally, BJP which agreed to increase water tax by eight per cent is now against it. On Thursday, BJP too joined the opposition and shouted slogans against Sena.
Despite the profits made by the civic body, the BJP’s group leader in BMC said the water tax was allowed because the corporation had made a loss two years ago. “In 2012, the water tax hike was allowed as the financial condition of the civic body was not good. But today, the corporation has Rs. 61,000 crore in fixed deposits and earn Rs. 4.5 crore in interest only. So why is the hike in water tax needed?” the BJP leader said.
A livid Ravi Raja, Leader of Opposition, said his demand to reopen the proposal was struck down for no apparent reason. “I demand to reopen the proposal which if allowed would have curtailed the powers of administration. Due to the 2012 resolution, it can increase water tax every year,” he remarked.
“Citizens of Mumbai do not get adequate water properly. Water pipelines in South Mumbai are old, no new water and sewerage pipelines have been installed. But still they want citizens to pay more tax. I will again demand to reopen the proposal in the next meeting,” Raja added.
On the contrary, Yashwant Jadhav, Leader of House from Sena, stated that the opposition did not take the ruling party into confidence on the matter. Sena was also not in favour of water tax hike, Jadhav said.