PMC approves house tax rebate for old buildings

Prayagraj: The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) approved a 40% rebate in house tax for buildings that are more than 20 years old within the urban limits.The decision was taken unanimously during the PMC's house meeting held on Tuesday. Property owners will receive the rebate automatically and will not be required to submit any application or request. The provision will come into effect from April 2026.The decision is expected to benefit residents living in the older parts of the city, where many buildings have crossed the 20-year mark. Localities like Kidganj, Daraganj, Rambagh, Bairhana, Chowk, Shahganj, Kareli, Malviya Nagar, Mundera and Chakia are among the areas likely to receive significant relief once the policy is implemented.The house also decided to seek approval for a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for major house tax defaulters. The municipal corporation will forward the proposal to state govt within three days.The house also passed the revised budget for 2025-26 for both the municipal corporation and the Jal Kal department. The revised municipal budget was reduced by Rs 235 crore to around Rs 2,100 crore. Officials indicated that the reduction was mainly due to grants from state govt not being received as expected.At the same time, the budget for the Jal Kal department was increased by Rs 31.40 crore for improvement of drinking water facilities in the city.It was also decided that officers of all municipal departments will remain present in their chambers daily from 3pm to 5pm to discuss ward-related issues. A plan to deploy gardener-cum-sanitation workers in all 100 wards under the District Urban Development Agency was also passed. Another plan approved was for setting up a digital library and an advocate hall at the municipal headquarters. To strengthen civic services, the number of hearse vehicles will be increased from three to six .Water supply works were also reviewed and preparations for the monsoon were discussed. The PMC will begin cleaning drains and sewers from April 1, with a plan to complete at least two rounds of cleaning before rains.