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Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Housing societies in dilemma over NA tax in absence of govt resolution
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: Nearly ten months after the state cabinet announced abolition of non-agricultural (NA) tax for urban housing societies, confusion prevails over it due to absence of a formal govt resolution (GR) in this regard. The managements of housing societies across the state said they are not sure whether they should continue paying the tax till official guidelines are issued in this regard. The state cabinet, under Eknath Shinde-led govt, had approved scrapping of the NA tax in October 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections. The move was aimed at providing relief to societies in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai, where residents have been paying both property tax and NA tax. Housing societies have now approached the state government to issue a formal GR in this respect. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "We have informed the housing societies that the NA tax has been scrapped. However, many have received payment notices post-October. There is widespread confusion on the issue. We urge the govt to issue a GR in this regard immediately," said Suhas Patwardhan, chairperson, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. The NA tax, which dates back to the British era, is levied on properties situated on agricultural land within the municipal corporation or council limits, excluding those located in designated gaothan areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo The abolition was a long-standing demand of housing society federations. Despite the cabinet decision, lack of an official GR has left societies in a dilemma. Some have stopped paying tax based on the cabinet announcement, while others continue to pay to avoid potential penalties. Senior revenue department officials acknowledged the delay, attributing it to the timing of the assembly elections. "The law and judiciary department deferred the issue of GR last year, citing code of conduct during elections. Later, it was left to the new govt to issue the GR," a revenue department official told TOI. A senior official confirmed on Saturday that the GR is likely to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting and could be notified before August 15. "We understand the practical difficulties societies are facing. Clear directives will be issued through the GR shortly, which would give clarity to those who have paid NA tax and those who have not," the official added. In the meantime, housing societies remain divided in their approach. "We are aware that the tax has been scrapped, but without an official GR, we are hesitant to stop payment," said a senior committee member of a housing society in Kondhwa. "We have not received any directive from the state govt. Until the GR is issued, we cannot provide clear instructions to officials or societies," said a senior district administration official. The housing federation said that the issue affects thousands of housing societies and called on the govt to issue a resolution in this regard without any further delay. "This is a critical issue for middle-class homeowners. The longer the delay, the more confusion it will create. The govt must act swiftly," said Patwardhan. Pune: Nearly ten months after the state cabinet announced abolition of non-agricultural (NA) tax for urban housing societies, confusion prevails over it due to absence of a formal govt resolution (GR) in this regard. The managements of housing societies across the state said they are not sure whether they should continue paying the tax till official guidelines are issued in this regard. The state cabinet, under Eknath Shinde-led govt, had approved scrapping of the NA tax in October 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections. The move was aimed at providing relief to societies in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai, where residents have been paying both property tax and NA tax. Housing societies have now approached the state government to issue a formal GR in this respect. "We have informed the housing societies that the NA tax has been scrapped. However, many have received payment notices post-October. There is widespread confusion on the issue. We urge the govt to issue a GR in this regard immediately," said Suhas Patwardhan, chairperson, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. The NA tax, which dates back to the British era, is levied on properties situated on agricultural land within the municipal corporation or council limits, excluding those located in designated gaothan areas. The abolition was a long-standing demand of housing society federations. Despite the cabinet decision, lack of an official GR has left societies in a dilemma. Some have stopped paying tax based on the cabinet announcement, while others continue to pay to avoid potential penalties. Senior revenue department officials acknowledged the delay, attributing it to the timing of the assembly elections. "The law and judiciary department deferred the issue of GR last year, citing code of conduct during elections. Later, it was left to the new govt to issue the GR," a revenue department official told TOI. A senior official confirmed on Saturday that the GR is likely to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting and could be notified before August 15. "We understand the practical difficulties societies are facing. Clear directives will be issued through the GR shortly, which would give clarity to those who have paid NA tax and those who have not," the official added. In the meantime, housing societies remain divided in their approach. "We are aware that the tax has been scrapped, but without an official GR, we are hesitant to stop payment," said a senior committee member of a housing society in Kondhwa. "We have not received any directive from the state govt. Until the GR is issued, we cannot provide clear instructions to officials or societies," said a senior district administration official. The housing federation said that the issue affects thousands of housing societies and called on the govt to issue a resolution in this regard without any further delay. "This is a critical issue for middle-class homeowners. The longer the delay, the more confusion it will create. The govt must act swiftly," said Patwardhan.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In absence of GR, housing socs in dilemma over paying NA tax
Pune: Nearly 10 months after the state cabinet announced abolition of non-agricultural (NA) tax for urban housing societies, confusion prevails over it due to absence of a formal govt resolution (GR) in this regard. The managements of housing societies across the state said they are not sure whether they should continue paying the tax till official guidelines are issued in this regard. The state cabinet, under Eknath Shinde-led govt, had approved scrapping of the NA tax in October 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections. The move was aimed at providing relief to societies in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai, where residents have been paying both property tax and NA tax. Housing societies have now approached the state government to issue a formal GR in this respect. "We have informed the housing societies that the NA tax has been scrapped. However, many have received payment notices post-October. There is widespread confusion on the issue. We urge the govt to issue a GR in this regard immediately," said Suhas Patwardhan, chairperson, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The NA tax, which dates back to the British era, is levied on properties situated on agricultural land within the municipal corporation or council limits, excluding those located in designated gaothan areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Despite cabinet decision, lack of an official GR has left societies in a dilemma. Senior revenue department officials acknowledged the delay, attributing it to the timing of the assembly elections. "The law and judiciary department deferred the issue of GR last year, citing code of conduct during elections. Later, it was left to the new govt to issue the GR," a revenue department official told TOI. A senior official confirmed on Saturday that the GR is likely to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting and could be notified before August 15.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra State Housing Federation calls for stronger grievance redressal system for self-redevelopment projects
Pune: The Maharashtra State Housing Federation has urged govt to step up awareness of the newly announced supreme grievance redressal committee that will function alongside Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority ( MahaRERA ) to address homebuyers' concerns in redevelopment projects. Federation members emphasised that a well-defined structure with district-wise redressal mechanisms is essential for the committee, which was announced under the Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025 . "While the committee is a good initiative, there is an urgent need for clarity on its functioning and jurisdiction," a senior member said. "The redevelopment cell launched too needs more district cells for people to understand the process for self-redevelopment." Shreeprasad Parab, expert director of the federation, gave some recommendations for self-redevelopment measures. "State shall develop a GIS-based software to provide approvals within 30 minutes which will be a single window system. There should be a corporation to provide initial funding." He further said govt should immediately direct the departments concerned to issue govt resolutions and an ordinance for providing benefits as enumerated in the self-redevelopment GR released in Sept 2019. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Parab also called for "directions to all district central cooperative banks to provide funding to self-redevelopment projects " and "reduction in premium rates or waiver of interest in self-redevelopment projects." He stressed the need to "constitute a committee involving members of the federation for dispute redressal during the redevelopment process." On the policy, Parab said its approval "has come after a hiatus of nearly two decades." He explained that the federation has expressed "unequivocal endorsement of the policy and affirmed its institutional readiness to collaborate with state govt in realising its full and effective implementation." The policy centers on self-redevelopment through a state-level self-redevelopment cell with a corpus of Rs2,000 crore earmarked for cooperative-led initiatives. It also introduces digital governance through state housing information portal and mandates tripartite agreement mechanisms for redevelopment projects. "This policy signifies a significant advancement in the constitutional realisation of the right to housing. The federation stands prepared to serve as a statutory conduit between state and people through the cooperative movement," Parab said. Ramesh Prabhu, chairman of Maharashtra Society Welfare Association, offered a different perspective. "Govt should constitute a redevelopment authority for registering, monitoring and reviewing redevelopment projects instead of having a high-powered redressal committee." On the allocation of Rs2,000 crore for self-redevelopment, Prabhu said, "Instead of granting them directly, these funds may be used to give guarantee to the financial institution who grant funds for self-redevelopment." He emphasised implementation timelines, saying, "Now the housing department should implement the policy in the next six months and only then will its publication have a meaning." Industry stakeholders also welcomed the policy. Shantilal Kataria, executive council member and ex-president of CREDAI Maharashtra and CREDAI Pune Metro, said the housing policy has been published after a period of almost two decades following the earlier housing policy of 2007. "Hence its implementation at the earliest is of paramount importance." Kataria highlighted the policy's significance: "Maharashtra leads in urbanisation which enhances the significance of this policy. The creation of state housing information portal will prove extremely valuable in the long run. Affordable rental housing is the need of the hour."
