All parties, public oppose GWMC vacant land tax

Warangal: The decision by the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) to impose vacant land tax (VLT) has become cause of concern for the public and an object to stage protests for Opposition parties.   

With the increasing opposition from the public and Opposition parties to the VLT, the ruling party leaders are also now appealing the corporation to withdraw the VLT imposed on plots of open land under the corporation limits.

It may be noted that GWMC Commissioner VP Gautham in this May informed that the corporations’ revenue staff identified about 30,000 open plots but majority of the land owners are not paying the vacant land tax.

The corporation has also served notices to the land owners, asking them to pay the VLT. It is said that of the 30,000 plots, houses have been constructed on 5,000 plots and they are allotted house numbers.

But the Opposition parties like Congress and BJP have expressed serious opposition to the VLT and wanted the corporation to withdraw the VLT. 
Hundreds of Congress activists laid siege to GWMC office recently, following a call by the District Congress Committee (DCC).

According to DCC president N Rajender Reddy, there is no vacant land tax in Hyderabad but in Warangal people are being forced to pay VLT. He wanted the corporation to withdraw the VLT for those, who apply for Land Regularisation Scheme.

He found fault with the GWMC officials warning to the citizens that they have to pay the VLT now else, they will have to pay the tax with arrears, when they construct houses. ‘This is nothing but harassing the citizens, who are already burdened with taxes,’ he complained.

The BJP too is gearing up to stage protests against the VLT. Nowhere in Telangana VLT is collected, then why in Warangal, posed the BJP Warangal Urban district president Rao Padma. Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, she warned that large scale protests will be staged if the VLT is not withdrawn. The BJP leader also appealed the citizens not to pay the VLT since the TRS rule will come to end soon.

On the other hand, Warangal (West) MLA D Vinay Bhasker has met GWMC Commissioner Gautham and appealed him to withdraw the VLT in view of the public opposition. He claimed that the matter has been taken to the notice of MAUD Minister K Taraka Rama Rao and he responded positively.