Now, MC to charge for fire NOC

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26

In an attempt to increase the cash-strapped MC’s revenue generation, the local civic body has now fixed the rates for a fire no-objection certificate (NOC). This will be the first time the MC will charge for a fire NOC.

At the last House meeting, the MC had unanimously resolved to charge for a fire NOC from commercial establishments. Thereafter, a committee was formed to finalise the rates. In the coming House meeting, scheduled for April 28, the MC is coming up with the new rate agenda.

According to the agenda item, the MC will charge a minimum of Rs 5,000 from commercial establishments. If anybody has a commercial space of over 500 sq ft, the MC will charge Rs 10 per sq ft. The fee will be charged from multiplexes, cinema halls, malls, gas agencies, hotels, marriage palaces, educational institutions and hospitals among others. Private societies, commercial booths and shops will also be covered under the new rule. 

Fire NOC on Mohali pattern 

The MC had placed the agenda in the last meeting on the pattern of the Mohali MC. It was stated that the Mohali MC was charging for fire NOCs which should be followed in Chandigarh to increase the revenue generation. The agenda read, “The tax structure of various leading MCs has been studied and these taxes, which have been imposed by several MCs, can be considered for Chandigarh.”  The MC House had then passed the agenda. 

Taxes, fee show BJP’s real face: Chhabra

City Congress chief Pardeep Chhabra said first the MC imposed entry tax on commercial vehicles and now it had decided to charge fee from residents. The taxes and fee imposed by the MC had shown their real face, he said.