Hike in various fees/taxes when there is no elected Municipality Body proves public service is not in DNA of JMC by going against agenda of Union Govt and LG Administration of making J&K a welfare state

Before citizens pay their tax, JMC should enquire whether JMC officials using JMC accommodation paying rent, government Schools, Colleges, and all other government offices also have huge buildings in the Municipal area whether they are paying taxes and filing their self-assessment
Public asking whether JMC staff deputed for public service or self-service as burdening various nature Hawkers with hike in various kinds of fees and ignoring action against influential persons causing serious loss to JMC exchequer put question mark on their working
JMC enhances various fees/taxes pertaining to Building section including copying fee from Rs 100 to Rs 1000,application fee from 500 to Rs 1000 septic tank from Rs 2000 to Rs 5000,sanitation charges from Rs 1200 to Rs 3000, building construction fee for residential from Rs 32.28 per Sqm to 80 per Sqm, Building construction fee for commercial from 269 Sqm to 270 Sqm. This is quite strange that residential fee enhanced considerably but in case of commercial just Rs one was enhanced which is gross injustice with those is aspiring to raise residential construction
JMC has also enhanced the rent of various Municipal assets such as shops, Godowns and Garages but deliberately didn’t enhance rent of JMC quarters/flats which are illegally occupied by the influential persons of different political parties as well as govt officials already paying meager rent whereas they should have been the first one to pay enhanced rent having enough power in their pocket to pay enhanced rent
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, dec 14
Dealing a big blow to people dreaming about a new home, Jammu Municipal Corporation has announced an exponential increase in the permit and application fees for building houses. Already facing a hike in prices of construction materials and fuel, people would now find it more difficult to construct a new house in Jammu. The new rates will come into effect from 12-12-2023 in a meeting held on 8-12-2023 vide No. JMC/DC/N/4656-54. It deserves mentioning here that during meeting of Central Purchase Committee held under the Chairmanship of Commissioner JMC on 8-12-2023 for enhancement of rate including enhancement of rate of advertisement through hoardings (static Ad Panels ) by 10% which is against advertisement policy of JMC. As per the policy, JMC is authorized to outsource the advertisement rights in the Municipal areas to generate non operating revenue without spending even a penny from Govt exchequer. Previously the JMC has earned crores of revenue by outsourcing the advertisement rights to private party and generated crores of revenue every year. It is very strange JMC has erected 200 static ad panels by spending worth Rs 6 crores and without generating any revenue. Instead of outsourcing ,JMC has started renting out static ad panels and collecting fee through their officials of Revenue section which has become den of corruption. JMC deliberately providing opportunities to corrupt officials to pilferage of revenue collection. This is evident from the meager collection of revenue during the year 2016-17, 2017-18 by way of outsourcing. This deliberate attempt by JMC Authority to cause loss to JMC exchequer and not implementing advertisement policy in letter and spirit and left revenue collection at the whims and fancies of corrupt JMC officials which is evident from the fact from poor revenue collection last year. Despite of spending more than 6 crores on the erection of static panels without any valid reason and thus misusing govt exchequer for their ulterior motives.
It deserves mentioning here that JMC has deliberately targeted street vendors and street hawkers of various categories by enhancing license fee unilaterally instead of providing some relief to them which is strong policy of Union govt to take proper care of law wage workers earning their livelihood by roaming in streets and on roads. JMC has also enhanced the rent of various Municipal assets such as shops Godowns and Garages but deliberately didn’t enhance rent of JMC quarters/flats which are illegally occupied by the influential persons of different political parties as well as high govt officials already paying meager rent whereas they should have been the first one to pay enhanced rent having enough power in their pocket to pay enhanced rent. Moreover J&K High Court has directed JMC in PIL 33 of 2017 to evict all occupants of Municipal accommodation both residential and commercial within one year but more than two years have lapsed but no action has been taken by JMC against such illegal occupants for implementation of High Court judgment. The Court has clearly directed JMC to go for the open auction of all Municipal auctions in fair and transparent manner. The Committee has very cleverly and deliberately has not considered them for enhancement rent charges just to favour illegal occupants which include influential persons as well as signatory of this Committee also. Furthermore JMC has also enhanced various fees/taxes pertaining to Building section w.e.f 1-4-2023, with immediate effect and 1-1-2024 in ambiguous manner including copying fee from Rs 100 to Rs 1000,application fee from 500 to Rs 1000 septic tank from Rs 2000 to Rs 5000,sanitation charges from Rs 1200 to Rs 3000, building construction fee for residential from Rs 32.28 per Sqm to 80 per Sqm, Building construction fee for commercial from 269 Sqm to 270 Sqm. Moreover Draftsman Registeration fee which was earlier Nil now enhanced Rs 12000/one time also Draftsman License fee earlier 9000 for three years now enhanced Rs 6000 per year.
This is quite strange that residential fee enhanced considerably but in case of commercial just Rs one was enhanced which gross injustice with those is aspiring to raise residential construction. It is very unfortunate to note that it is responsibility of JMC to provide sanitation and septic management service to people free of cost as JMC has miserably failed to provide sewerage line facility to entire city until now only 10% area is connected with sewerage management plan Bhagwati Nagar and enhancing sanitation management and septic management charges is unnecessary burden on public when they deserve to get these services free of cost and putting their failure charges on public. This has made slogan of LG Sahib of clean and green Jammu mere hoax as if you charge from public for these services the smart city project won’t be able to create any impulse in public. In light of above, LG Administration should seriously look into this as the general public already facing high inflation and various other enhanced taxes should get some relief rather than imposing more burdens on public.