Property survey nears completion in Dharamsala

The Municipal Corporation of Dharamsala has completed 80 per cent of its ongoing property survey under the Unit Area Value (UAV) system. Municipal Commissioner Zafar Iqbal has asked local residents to cooperate with the survey teams and submit accurate property details before March 15. He has warned them that non-cooperation can lead to complications under the municipal rules. He expects more than 16,000 properties to come under house tax from the next financial year.

The aim of the city-wide exercise is to bring all properties in Dharamsala under a transparent and uniform taxation framework. The survey is being conducted as per the Unit Area Value (UAV) method notified in the 2020 gazette, which seeks to ensure a fair and non-discriminatory assessment of property tax.

To execute the task efficiently, special technical teams have been deployed and they are using modern technology to collect and digitise updated property data, ensuring accuracy and minimising discrepancies in records.

Iqbal has said that the purpose of the survey is not to burden citizens with additional taxes but to streamline the system and remove inconsistencies in property records. “A transparent mechanism benefits both administration and public. It ensures fairness and eliminates arbitrary assessments,” he added.

He has appreciated residents who had cooperated with the survey teams so far, calling them responsible citizens contributing to better urban governance. However, he has cautioned individuals, who deliberately withhold information or provide misleading details, that they may face strict action, as per the municipal provisions.

With only a few days to go for the March 15 deadline, the Municipal Corporation has urged all property owners to ensure their details are accurately recorded.