Bhubaneswar: Amid massive protests from Bhubaneswar denizens over an exorbitant hike in the holding tax, the Odisha government on Monday decided to put it on hold
Housing and Urban Development and Law Minister Pratap Jena said that a case pertaining to the revised holding tax is pending in the Orissa High Court. “The Chief Minister, considering the sentiment of the people, has directed for not implementing the hike till the court gives a final verdict” he said.
Also Read: No Move To Seal Houses Of Holding Tax Defaulters In Bhubaneswar: BMC
The minister further said residents of the city will now pay the holding tax as per the existing rate.
Notably, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation had effected a ten-fold increase in holding tax in proportion to the benchmark value of the land instead of the unit value of the area. It had also started a month-long holding tax mela in the first week of March at various wards to collect the revised holding tax.