Get a tax sop if your house is bigger than 345 sq ft

The monsoon session of the State Legislature beginning from Monday is likely to bring a smile on Mumbaikars’ faces as those who own tenements bigger than 345 square feet will get concession in property tax with retrospective effect from 1995.

But all other property owners are likely to curse the government because of its intention to hike property tax in the name of rationalising it. Both the changes will be made by the government by introducing Bills that will eventually be converted into Acts and implemented immediately. The state will table 19 Bills this monsoon session, which is likely to be convened for three weeks.

“It is our resolve to get both the Bills passed because we believe in rationalisation of the imposition of property tax,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Patil on the government’s stand on the property tax issue, which is strongly opposed by Shiv Sena and BJP.

“The government is also introducing two important Bills regarding reservation in private professional educational institutions and rationalisation of fee structure for medical and engineering admissions. It will also introduce a Bill which will introduce a common entrance examination for all professional courses including medical and engineering,” said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

“On an average, the session will discuss two Bills every day,” he said. The government will also table other important Bills like restoring the old procedure of electing chairmen of municipal councils and other local self government bodies indirectly.