Darj Municipality’s move to hike rent draws flak from business associations

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 19 Apr 2023 : Business Associations have appealed to the Darjeeling Municipality to roll back its decision to increase tax (rent) for shops, business establishments and households under the Zamindary department. 

The Municipality on the other hand has decided to go ahead with this. “Councillor Malla claims that the Darjeeling Chamber and Commerce and the Path Pashaley Sangh have given their consent to the increase in a meeting with the Municipality, this is wrong. 

We have had no such meeting where an increase in tax has been discussed. There are households under the Zamindari. How can business associations speak on their behalf? People are questioning us. Councillor Malla has to retract his statement. If he wants, we can sit in a meeting to discuss this,” stated Jyoti Ratna Tuladhar, vice-president, Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce. 

The Path Pashaley Sangh echoed similar sentiments. “We vehemently condemn this,” stated Govind Pradhan of Path Pashaley Sangh. Recently Councillor Vishnu Malla had announced that tax (rent) has not been revised for the past eleven years for shops and households under the Zamindari of the Darjeeling Municipality. 

“If we have to economically strengthen the civic body, then we have to revise the tax or rents. All 32 Councillors have given a nod to the increase of 50 per cent for this fiscal year. Following this there will be an auto increase of 10 per cent every three years.” Malla had claimed that the Municipality has had meetings with Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce and Path Pashaley Sangh (shop owners and hawkers association) regarding this and they have consented. 

On Wednesday, in reaction to Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce and Path Pashaley Sangh, Malla stated: 

“We have had informal meetings with both and had apprised them of the hike. As the matter has been passed by the Board of Councillors, there is no need to take consents. However, they can meet me if they want to discuss the matter.” 

He said that an official notice regarding the hike that will come into effect from April 1, will be circulated from this week.For houses, the rent is around Rs 500 and it will now be hiked to Rs 750. 

“Shops are located in prime areas of town, mainly the chowk bazaar. They pay rent depending on the size of the shop and location. For some it is around Rs 1000 for some Rs 1500. Some have sublet their shops and are getting rent of Rs 35000. We are sure it will not be difficult to dish out this amount. 

The Municipality will take stringent action against defaulters as per the Bengal Municipal Act,” stated Malla. 

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/darj-municipalitys-move-to-hike-rent-draws-flak-from-business-associations-515775?infinitescroll=1