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Tiny Village Eyes Huge Tax From New Airport
Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli | June 19, 2008 | 360 views
(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...The Gollapally gram panchayat, in whose jurisdiction the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is located in Shamshabad, is demanding property tax from the GMR group, the operator of the airport.
The small gram panchayat is expecting Rs 3 crore revenue through the tax from the airport operator.
The secretary of the gram panchayat and sarpanch went to the airport a couple of weeks ago and sought information about the built-up area and building drawings of the international airport to make an assessment for the purpose of levying property tax.
The panchayat officials visited after Ranga Reddy district collector directed the gram panchayat officials to assess the property to impose tax.
“We will claim property tax from the international airport buildings. Since they are commercial buildings, we hope to get good revenue from them,” extension officer of rural development (EORD) of Shamshabad A Ravinder Reddy told TOI on Tuesday.
However, the airport authorities reportedly told the panchayat officials that the airport was under no obligation to pay any tax as the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited is a joint venture of the government and the GMR group. A board was also formed by the government and the gram panchayat cannot take a decision on the issue of levying property tax.
But the gram panchayat officials say the board is meant for taking decisions pertaining to the airport operations and other policy matters and the gram panchayat has the right to claim property tax. “Though fullyowned by government, Begumpet airport pays property tax to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board. The right to levy and collect property tax is vested with the local bodies,” a panchayat official said.
Interestingly, Gollapally is small village near the new airport. Two villages in this minor panchayat were acquired during land acquisition for the airport and only 300 to 400 acres is left with the gram panchayat. “The total demand of this minor panchayat is just Rs 12,000 per year and it collects nearly Rs 3,000 per year,” Gollapally panchayat secretary Md Aneef said.
Many people default on property tax saying they lost their precious land to the airport. Apart from Gollapally, the buildings of the airport fall in Mankhal, Maheshwaram, Mamidipally and Shamshabad panchayats. But most of the buildings, including the main the airport, falls in the jurisdiction of Gollapally.
SOURCES:
Times Of India
Topics: Airports |
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