SAD-BJP coordination panel to get feedback from public

The SAD-BJP coordination committee set up by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will seek feedback from people on the levy of property tax, even as it decided to keep vacant plots and small houses out of the tax ambit.
"We will start seeking feedback from public in connection with property tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) from September 20 to find out problems being faced by them," a BJP leader who is part of the coordination committee said today after the third meeting of the committee.
"Initially, our priority will be to know the hassles if any faced by public in connection with implementation of property tax," the BJP leader said.

The committee had already taken the views of officials of Local Bodies department as part of its efforts to take remedial measures in order to simplify and rationalise the property tax.
"All the members in the committee are unanimous on keeping vacant plots and 100 square yard houses out of the ambit of property tax," he said.
It has also been suggested to delink the property tax rates from collector rates and also that tax should not be charged from a citizen aged more than 80 years whose source of income is just the rent.

The committee would also take views of the Departments of Industries, and Excise and Taxation in the next meeting slated for September 17 with regard to VAT refund, complicated VAT law and other problems being faced by traders and industrialists.

"Our intention is that people should not be overburdened with heavy taxes and development projects should not suffer for want of funds," he said.
The SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab has been facing widespread criticism over property tax, complicated VAT structure and spiralling prices of sand and gravel.
The Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had formed the six-member committee comprising SAD and BJP members to streamline day-to-day functioning and cooperation between the allies.
SAD-BJP coordination committee, in the end, will send its recommendations to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for implementation.
From the Akali Dal, the panel comprises Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and Balwinder Singh Bhunder besides Lok Sabha MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura.

From BJP, Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma, senior leaders Narottam Dev Ratti and Rajinder Bhandari are part of the panel.