JMC terms review of rates, fee for various services, assets as continued process

Clarifies “Residential accommodation policy notified as per High Court directions”

Jammu Municipal Corporation today described the review of rates or fee for various services and assets as a continued process, saying that in some cases the taxes or fee are even reduced.

Referring to recently revised rates/fee, a spokesperson of the JMC said that the exercise is carried out after due diligence and considering relevant factors including inflation index. The rates of various services/rent of municipal assets are enhanced after a long period.

JMC clarified that the Residential accommodation policy has been notified on the directions of High Court. Accordingly, the rent of flats occupied by authorized allotees is being enhanced as per market rates worked out by rent assessment committee in line with policy and High Court order.

Elaborating on detailed status on this account, JMC apprised that the building permission fee was fixed in 2016 which has now been enhanced as approved by the General House. Similarly, existing rates of Trade Tax were fixed in the year 1994 and were not revised since then. The last revision in respect of NOC fee was done in the year 2019 and now these rates have been revised along with rationalization of rates to ensure small business are subject to less fee.

Earlier, various establishments were included in the miscellaneous category and were uniformly charged at Rs. 7700/-. Now the same has been revised/rationalized as per the size of the shop/school/establishment. For instance, previously all type of schools were charged at the uniform rate of Rs 7700. Now after the revision, the rate for the Creche/Playschools has been fixed at Rs 2000/-, Primary schools at Rs 4000/- and middle school at Rs 6000/- per annum.

Likewise, the advertisement rates have been enhanced by considering inflation index into account. Last revision for street vendor license fee was also done in the year 2015 and increase after a gap of 8 years is nominal. The rent of Shops/Godowns/Garages was revised in the year 2019 and was due for next revision in 2022 as it is being revised after every 3 years as per the policy norms but the same has been revised now with nominal increase.