BMC proposes to increase beautification cess by 5%

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed to increase the beautification cess by 5%. After a failed tender to raise property tax by 14% in June, BMC intends to increase the beautification cess by 5%. BMC gets beautification cess from housing societies and properties that have water ponds, water fountains and other landscaping with water elements. The corporation has proposed to increase the beautification cess by 5% administration, and it will present before the standing committee on Wednesday. As per the officials, all housing societies or properties that have a swimming pool, ponds, or water fountains have to take approval from the BMC’s Pest Control Officer (PCO). The official told the media that the PCO gets an annual fee from these properties. This beautification cess has not surged for many years. From the present, Rs 6,000 per year and a deposit of Rs 20,000, the cess will rise to Rs 6,300 and the deposit will surge to Rs 21,000. BMC stands to gain more revenue from this. BJP Corporator Vinod Mishra told the media that BMC must not inflict any hike even if it is marginal. People don’t have money to pay maintenance bills and at such a time proposing a hike is unfair. The standing committee in June refused the BMC’s plan to raise property tax by around 14%. With stern opposition from the BJP and Congress, the Shiv Sena led a motion to register the proposal, which was cleared by the standing committee. The BMC needed to raise property tax rates by 14% by offering to calculate them based on the new Ready Reckoner (RR) rates. Image Source Also read: BMC to redevelop and beautify Saat Rasta in central Mumbai