Kolhapur: Developers, architects and traders protested outside Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Monday morning demanding reduction in property tax of commercially rented properties. They also sought that license fees and charges for fire services are not hiked.The protest took place ahead of the general body meet of KMC. Several tax proposals were tabled in the GB for approval by the administration. Developers claimed property tax charged by KMC is seven times the tax charged by other D-class municipal corporations.Mahesh Yadav, president of CREDAI Kolhapur said, “We demand reduction in the property tax over commercially rented properties to 25% from the present 70%. It will help more firms and companies open their outlets and offices in the city and ultimately lead to generation of employment. The tax charged by KMC is much more than tax imposed by corporations in the state. The basis for fixing property tax is wrong and we demand that it be changed to reduce the burden on property owners.”Members of Kolhapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries demanded that property tax of industrial properties be reduced. There should not be increase in license fees and fire service tax for the next five years, they said. Mayor Sarita More and other office bearers paid a visit to the protesters and assured them the tax burden would be reduced.“Since the last one year, developers and traders are demanding reduction in property tax. We are finding out the solution to bring down the property tax. We are going to meet all stakeholders on Wednesday morning and GB has been called on the same day to take a unanimous decision. We expect suggestions from the developers and traders to increase the revenue of the KMC if they are given relief in property tax,” More said.

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