Daijiworld Media Network - Ponda

Ponda, May 11: After a failed attempt in 2022, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has finally implemented a house tax hike starting April this year, with rates revised to meet growing administrative expenses.

PMC chairperson Anand Naik confirmed that the tax has been increased by Rs 3 per sqm for residential properties and Rs 5 per sqm for commercial units. With this, the house tax now stands at Rs 10 per sqm for domestic and Rs 25 per sqm for commercial properties.

Naik said households in Ponda were still paying rates fixed in 2019, when the council had revised the tax from Rs 5 to Rs 7 per sqm.

In 2022, PMC had proposed a steep hike Rs 15 per sqm for houses and Rs 100 per sqm for commercial units but the plan was withdrawn after public opposition. For new constructions, the proposal had suggested Rs 50 per sqm for houses and Rs 206 for commercial properties.

Justifying the latest revision, Naik pointed out that even B-grade municipalities in Goa have raised house taxes to Rs 20 per sqm, with some panchayats in the taluka following suit.