BMC

Tilak

PMC

Shiv Sena

Devendra Fadnavis

Sena

Chandrakant Mokate

BJP

For Pune, Shiv Sena’s city unit wants to replicate Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s () waiver directives to properties measuring under 700 sq feet. This demand, Mayor Muktahas said, will be discussed in the meeting. It has also met with the Opposition’s discontent as it has asked for the leaders to come with something “logical” since the demand does not make sense considering Pune Municipal Corporation’s () income.Shiv Sena, in its ‘vachannama’ (manifesto) released before the corporation election, had promised to provide tax waivers to the owners of the homes below 500 square feet. They had also promised to offer discount on the tax for the properties between 500 and 700 square feet. To keep up with its promise, a corporator tabled the proposal in the general body meeting, which was approved in July 2017. It was then sent to the state government for a final nod. Whilehad proposed the cut off at 500 square feet, chief minister, while approving the proposal, increased the limit to 700 square feet. This proposal would incur losses worth Rs 300 crore to the BMC, which is considered to be one of the richest corporations.Considering the popularity of these directives, Shivcity unit protested at the PMC demanding a similar move. They also met Tilak with their demand., city president of Shiv Sena, said, “The move has been largely welcomed in the BMC. Moreover,state government has also supported it with the chief minister extending the limit. Since it’s a good move, we feel that citizens from Pune should also benefit from it — by getting a waiver on the property tax. Our letter includes this proposition and we hope that it is cleared in general body meeting soon.”The BJP has not opposed the move and chose to take a safe stand. Tilak claimed that a decision will be taken after discussing the demand with the party members. She told Mirror, “The demand has come up on the backdrop of the announcement by chief minister for Mumbai. But at the moment we will neither support nor discard the demand. We will discuss this with the leaders and members of our party in an internal party meeting. And then the decision will be taken on what is to be done”Interestingly, property tax is PMC’s major source of income. With the local body tax gone, property tax constitutes 28 per cent of the collections, which is the second-highest and direct source of civic body’s income.Opposition parties have claimed that Shiv Sena was not clear on its own stand. Leader of Opposition, Chetan Tupe, said, “It was only two days ago when Shiv Sena claimed that PMC authorities should figure out their sources of income and should try to increase it in whatever possible ways. And today, they are demanding a waiver on the property tax, which is currently the largest source of income. This is not going to work. They should first study their demands before making them. PMC’s budget will collapse if it gives a waiver.”