AGARTALA, Aug 12 (TIWN): Tripura’s sinking Congress Party failed to organize mass support for 12 hr bandh protesting against AMC tax hike on Friday apart from disrupting public transport and essential services causing sufferings for common people. In the protest rally led by TPCC Chief Birjit Sinha, strike was observed by local shop-keepers, vehicle transporters in morning. Even though people are fed up with Congress after Bengal poll tie-up between Congress and CPI-M, so the strike was almost a failure even after today's street drama in Agartala. Over 80% of Tripura Pradesh Congress leadership already deserted party so Birjit Sinha led faction of Congress very unlikely to cut any ice in Tripura's political map. From opposition leader Sudip Roy Barman, Ashis Saha to Youth congress leaders already resigned from their party and joined TMC and they are with full of enthusiasm propagating the party. However, police has arrested 2 Congress leaders one of them is Youth Congress leader Rakesh Das following a disruption in vehicular movement. But not more than 20 people joined in Birjit Sinha’s rally,resulting Birjit’s strike drama marred in utter failure. Security has been tightened across Agartala and the West Police Station, which is just at the opposite side of Congress Bhawan protecting the Congress Bhawan from other parties attacks.

Congress demanded to clarify the notice of AMC further, as that information published in AMC Website, was not clear to common people. What exactly the tax will be for the common men it’s yet unknown. Earlier also other political parties including TMC, BJP protested against the tax hike issue.

Various demands are coming from the common masses are :

1)    In no excuse the property-tax hike should be held,

2)  The proposal of Tax increasing would be fully cancelled

3)  To publish a fresh (Clear) tax proposal

4)  Increased AMC areas to be facilitate with proper benefits of AMC

5)  Without service no tax can be taken

6)To allot road, and Pakka drain in all areas

7) To provide dustbins in every areas

8)   To maintain the hygiene of the AMC area etc. 

Urban Development Dept. Govt. of Tripura vide a notification no. F-14-(2) UDD/DUD/2013/8510-814 Dated Agartala 25^th January, 2016 replaced the existing Tripura Municipal (Assessment and Collection of Property Tax), rules 2004 with new rules Tripura Municipal (Assessment & Collection of Property Tax), rules 2016 and subsequently as per rule (1) and (6) of new rule, the Urban Development Dept. has also notify the Municipal Valuation Committee for AMC vide notification F-14 (2) UDD/DUD/2013/ 10895/904/Dated Agartala16th March 2016 and further, the AMC has also co-opted non official members of the committee for the preparation and proposed property zone and unit area in its meeting held on 11/7/2016 has approved the proposal of Valuation Committee and thus many rules over taxes have also been implemented over the people including the slum area living people.

However the tax will be taken by per square meter measure and homes at Agartala town have been categorized  into 4 groups A B C D.

Category-wise taxation :

1.     For A category property zone as per lowest randomly selected proeprtly values, it comes Rs. 520.80/- as per square feet. Hence  10 % proportion faction for unit area value is considered as Rs. 50

2.     For B categories Rs. 434 . So 10 % proportion faction for unit area value is considered as Rs. 45,

3.     For C categories Rs. 405 . So 10 % proportion faction for unit area value is considered as Rs. 40,

4.     For D category Valuation Zone is (Slums, /Three number Abasans), it will be Rs. 35.

However, as per the calculation thus for A Category house for which minimum value is Rs. 500 per square feet, with 10 % unit value area. So 1 Ganda = Rs. 864/- SF. So in Agartala City the people who has A Category house ( 3ganda) he has to give every month 19,800/- and every year he has to give- 1 lakh 29 thousand 600/-

Now this issue has become a hot topic for Oppositions to protest against AMC. But how far AMC will care for their protests now it’s to be seen in coming days.