SMC draws flak for levying heavy taxes

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 24

The BJP-controlled Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has not only drawn the flak from the Shimla Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association for charging heavy taxes without providing any facility, but also the Shimla BJP Urban (District).

The civic body has been urged not to increase the charges of garbage collection. It has also been asked to review the decision to increase water charges by 10 per cent every year and drop the green tax proposal.

Irked over the indifferent attitude of the SMC, the tourism association has cautioned that in case no immediate relief is given to the hotel industry, it will have a disastrous impact and many units would shut.

“Hotels in Shimla are being charged the highest water rates, highest property tax in the state, high sewerage cess and the highest garbage collection charges,” said president of the association MK Seth.There is a steep decline in the tourist inflow. It has become difficult for hoteliers to meet the day-to-day operative cost. “The association condemns the move of the Municipal Corporation to increase the water rates and property tax. Water bills are being raised after 10 months despite several requests by the association to issue the water bills on a monthly basis,” he said, adding that the bills were raised on a slab basis, which was highly unjustified as it further increased the burden on hotels. “The condition of the road from Parwanoo to Solan is pathetic due to the ongoing fourlaning work in a haphazard manner, affecting the weekend tourism, which has been drastically reduced and the move to levy green fee by the SMC will ruin the tourism industry,” Seth warned.

He also opposed the entry tax imposed by the government saying charging heavy tax without any facilities and heavy penalty of Rs 2,000 on green tax defaulters had no logic.