Press statement issued by Media Advisor, Government steps against price rise

January 13, 2011 New Delhi The Government has been closely monitoring the inflation situation with a view to protecting the common citizen against abnormal price rise. Our experience in the recent past has been that while prices of most manufactured goods and services have been reasonably stable, food prices have frequently risen at unacceptable rates. 2. A year ago, the primary concern was with foodgrain prices which were pushed up because of the drought of 2009-10. We were able to bring foodgrain prices under control thanks to additional release through the PDS and a strong effort to increase production. The current bout of inflation is driven by a rise in prices of vegetables and fruits which is more difficult to manage because these commodities are not held in public stocks. The rise in prices is partly due to late rains, which affected the onion crop. There is also an underlying increase in prices of milk, eggs, meat and fish, which is the result of fast growth of the economy, leading to rising income levels, combined with the effect of several inclusiveness programme which put greater income in the hands of the relatively poor whose food consumption increases.  3. The only lasting solution to food price inflation lies in increasing agricultural productivity. Government has taken up important new schemes, and provided large budgetary support to these, with a view to boosting agricultural production not merely in cereals but also in pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits, milk and milk products, and poultry etc. As incomes rise, demand shifts towards horticultural crops, dairy products. These are perishable and need sustained development of market facilities, cold storage etc, quite different from what is needed for foodgrain.  4. The Government has recently reviewed the position and is taking the following measures to moderate these price increases: (i) NAFED and NCCF shall undertake sale of onions at Rs 35/kg from their retail outlets in various locations, with suitable budgetary support to be provided for this purpose. The arrival of onions from Pakistan will also help cool prices. Import of 1000 tonnes of onion has already been contracted. Export of onions stands banned. (ii) Government will review import and export of all essential commodities on a regular basis and impose controls on exports and ease restrictions on imports, including tariff reduction where necessary, to improve domestic supplies. (iii) Public Sector Undertakings shall intensify purchases of essential commodities, particularly edible oils and pulses, for distribution through their retail network and also through the Public Distribution System operated by the State Governments. The existing schemes for subsidized distribution of edible oils and pulses will be continued. Exports of edible oils and pulses, as well as non-basmati rice, will remain banned. (iv) Government will take stringent action against hoarders and black marketers manipulating market prices, under the relevant legal provisions, so as to ensure that products reach the markets in a timely manner to moderate the prices. Cartelisation by large traders will be strictly dealt with. The States will be requested to ensure that such action is effectively taken under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Competition Act, 2002. (v) Awareness campaigns will be intensified bringing out the availability of alternatives at cheaper rates such as yellow peas with a view to influence consumption pattern in favour of such alternatives. Special initiatives will be taken to involve Residents’ Welfare Associations and Self-Help Groups in distribution of essential commodities to address local shortages and ensure that the supplies reach the households with least intermediation cost. 5. Other measures involving a somewhat larger horizon include the following: (i) A scheme to support the state governments in the setting up of farmers' mandis and mobile bazaars and to improve the functioning of civil supplies corporations and cooperatives will be finalised urgently. (ii) The existing Public Distribution System will be suitably strengthened through computerization and other steps, including opening more procurement windows across the country. (iii) State Governments would be urged to review the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts and, in particular, consider exempting horticultural products from its purview thereby mitigating marketing and distribution bottlenecks in this crucial sector. State Governments will also be urged to consider waiving mandi tax, octroi and other local levies which impede smooth movement of essential commodities, as well as to reduce commission agent charges. (iv) Investment will be encouraged in supply chains, including provisions for cold storages, which will be dovetailed with organized retail chains for quicker and more efficient distribution of farm products and minimizing wastage. Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Department of Food & Public Distribution and Ministry of Food Processing Industries and the Planning Commission will jointly work out schemes for this purpose. (v) Suitable support will be extended to facilitate stocking of the bumper Kharif 2010 crop, including by augmenting storage capacities and modernizing/ upgrading the godowns and other infrastructure. 6. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) has been set up under the Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance to review the overall inflation situation, with particular reference to primary food articles. The IMG will, inter alia, review production/ rainfall trends and build an institutional machinery to read warning signals, assess international trends, recommend action on fiscal, monetary, production, marketing, distribution and infrastructure fronts to prevent price spikes, and suggest measures to strengthen collection and analysis of data and forecasting. 7. The Committee of Secretaries under the Cabinet Secretary will review the prices situation with individual States, and advise the Departments concerned of the Central Government to maintain close coordination with State agencies to get direct feedback with a view to taking suitable remedial measures on a fast-track. 8. The Government is watching the situation closely and is committed to containing the adverse impact of any inflationary pressures on the common man.
Source :  Prime Minister of India : Press Release.

B S VOHRA in the service to the RWA Community

After years of working with the RWA's, On 1st January, 2010, B S Vohra had launched RWA Bhagidari blog with the sole aim of making it a Common Platform for the RWA community so that they could interact amongst themselves to share the local civic problems, regularly faced by the residents & RWAs of respective areas. After a gap of twelve months, the blog has thousands of worldwide hits, over a thousand of postings & a good number of RWAs as its members as well readers.

In this period, B S Vohra received twice the Appreciation letters from the Delhi CM. He & the blog ( www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com ) was covered regularly by many prominent TV Channels as well almost all of the prominent News Papers in English & Hindi.

 

 
The blog is also visible on Facebook, Twitter as well Youtube.

On 15th August B S Vohra launched the RWA web portal ( www.RWABhagidari.com ), which included a Directory of RWAs of Delhi East as well many more features.

In order the further strengthen the bond of RWA cooperation, he decided to launch the EAST DELHI RWAs JOINT FRONT. A good number of RWAs showed great interest in this Joint Front & willingness to join it. As per B S Vohra, “ I intended to raise the issues of RWAs directly with the Authorities, in addition to uploading on the RWABhagidari blog.” A good number of RWAs of Delhi East have already joined this Joint Front which is on the stages of Registration in the very first week of January, 2011.

B S Vohra says, “ we are thankful to all those, who joined us in our endeavour to raise the common civic issues of the residents.”

“ We are sure, even this Joint Front will be a great success as the cream of the RWA community from Delhi East has already joined us,” says Vohra while wishing a very happy new year to one & all.


with thanks : SikhsIndia Blog

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE ?????

If you are concerned, please go through the Interim Report & let us have your valued comments at the earliest. If you still don't have a copy of it, please feel free to mail us NOW !

Regards

B S Vohra
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com
rwabhagidari@yahoo.in

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE! NEED NOT READ NEWSPAPERS!!

Dear Shri Vohra ji,

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE! NEED NOT READ NEWSPAPERS!! LET'S ALL TAKE UP THE ISSUE RELATING TO INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX (I have already taken a copy which you had circulated earlier) and improving the sewer lines. In this context we would like to mention that in our last meeting with the Chief Engineer along with other officials, he had promised to widen the gauge of the sewer pipe line and cleaning of the pipelines with a machine to flush out the entire sediments etc. Let's hope they do it with this sanction instead of wasting them on obliging the people's representatives pet constituencies alone!

Thanks and with best regards,

TK Balu

Secretary/RBECHS/Anand Vihar

Comments : some facts of the Interim Report of Property Tax .....

Dear Mr. Vohra,

Interesting but shocked! How the MCD is functioning is revealed! In the circumstances, how the MCD could claim and justify increase in property tax rates!  Can we have more such reasons and justification with facts and figures from our friends to frame our justification and send it to the MCD. 

TK Balu
Secretary/RBECHS/Anand Vihar

Dear Mr Balu,

I am trying my best to do the Indepth Study of this Interim Report on Property Tax. The THREE points raised by me so far, in the below posts are really shocking :

Some Facts from Property Tax Interim Report about NUMBER OF PROPERTIES IN DELHI

Some Facts from Property Tax Interim Report about Inability to prepare a proper data base of all properties

Some Facts from Property Tax Interim Report about Performance of UAM since 2004

I will add more such points very soon as well hope to get more such comments from our members too. If any of our member has not yet received the copy of Interim Report, or if any other RWA requires a copy, please feel free to mail us immediately.

Regards

B S Vohra

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

www.RWABhagidari.com

DJB's R10-cr Plan To `Improve' Sewer Lines

The Delhi Jal Board is set to `improve' sewer lines in east Delhi at a cost of R10 crore, following an order from the city government, after 70 people died in the Lalita Park building collapse due to water accumulation in the basement.

The civic body has also decided to install a couple of five MGD (million gallon per day) sewage pumps at Preet Vihar to remove the accumulated water in the area around Laxmi Nagar, officials said. Delhi Urban Development Minister AK Walia, along with Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Ramesh Negi, took a round of Laxmi Nagar area on Wednesday to take stock of the work being carried out to improve sewage.

Walia told Negi to find a permanent solution to the problem of water accumulation and over flowing sewer lines in the area.

The minister also directed DJB to prepare a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for sewer lines in the entire transYamuna area for inclusion in the 12th Five Year Plan.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above for detailed news.

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Last date of paying property tax extended

The New Delhi Municipal Council today extended by one month the last date of payment of property tax for the year 2010-11 with rebates.

 

The date has been extended from December 31, 2010 to January 31, 2011, it said.

"Taxpayers may avail the rebate by paying the tax till 31-01-2011," it said.

The civic agency said those who have not received the property tax bill can collect the same from the NDMC Palika Kendra office between 10 am and 2 pm on all working days.

with thanks : Indian Express : Link above for detailed news.

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

MCD Targets 100% Rise In Property Tax Net

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has targeted to increase its property tax net by hundred per cent in the next financial year.

Municipal commissioner KS Mehra has said that the number of people paying property tax in the national Capital would be doubled next year. At present, around eight lakh people are under the tax net, whereas the number of properties in the city is near 40 lakh.

"More and more people would be brought under the tax net so as to increase the MCD's revenue from taxes," said Mehra.

The tax collected from property owners in the city is the main source of income for the corporation, other than minor sources like advertisement revenue, toll tax, fee from car parking and mobile phone towers. The civic agency is already under a debt burden of Rs 2,867 crore and is struggling to find ways to increase revenue.

with thanks : Tribune : link above for the detailed news.

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Unique Identification (UID)'s Delhi Launch On R-Day

You will soon have your unique identification number. The Delhi government has decided to launch the scheme to give Delhiites unique identification (UID) number on January 26.

Senior Delhi government officials said they intend to the complete the process in a year's time.

"We are in process of finalising the enrolment agencies. The chief minister is likely to launch the scheme on Republic Day," Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta said.

According to senior officials, Delhi government had started giving out UIDs to the city's 40 lakh homeless in October 2010.Officials said the government will now start enrolling the rest of Delhi.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : Link above for the detailed news.

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Some Facts from Property Tax Interim Report about NUMBER OF PROPERTIES IN DELHI

S. No.  Revenue District (Delhi)    No. of Units as per Last Census (2001)   No. of Units as per DSSDI  (2009-10) (Tentative)*
1.              North                          1,48,927                             3,45,863
2.              North West                 5,61,945                             8,76,056
3.              South West                 3,64,511                             5,86,803
4.             Central                         1,20,616                             1,95,913
5.             East                              2,87,638                             6,23,087
6.             North East                    3,10,887                             5,06,437
7.             West                            4,32,782                             5,00,801
8.             South                           4,66,444                              8,60,942
                Total                           27,33,383                            44,95,902

(Source – Delhi State Spatial Data Infrastructure (DSSDI) (Survey of India))
(*Survey is still in progress).
Do You Know :

As per 2001 Census there were 27,33,383 properties in Delhi & in the year 2009 - 10 only 9,80,589 properties have paid tax i.e. not even 25% of the total properties as per 2009 - 10 census being carried on. From 2004 to 2010, MCD could not bring the rest of the properties under the TAX NET. 

MY QUESTION FROM ALL OF YOU :

1.Do you think that the MCD or any other Agency has the MORAL RIGHT to increase the TAX amount from the HONEST TAX PAYERS ?

2.Why CRORES are being spent on the FRESH survey, when MCD can not reach for collections to the rest of properties as per 2001 survey ?

3.If the Amount was collected from all the properties, not only the house tax can be brought to minimum but the Comfort levels ( Civic Facilities ) for Delhites could also be increased. Who is responsible for this neglect?

Some Facts from Property Tax Interim Report about Inability to prepare a proper data base of all properties

The Expert Committee had recommended a complete inventory of properties in Delhi through a field  survey  on  a  100%  basis  updated  in  subsequent  years  through regular periodical surveys and inspection.  The data base so created was to  be  linked  to  a  GIS  System  and  a  digitized  urban  map.    An  Urban Mapping  division  manned  by  trained  staff  was  to  be  set  up.    Each building/property was to be given a unique Property Identification Code (PIC).    This  recommendation  of  the  Committee  is  the  basis  of  the  statutory  requirements  of  Section  125  of DMC Act  which has  not  been implemented  yet.

However, for the purpose of  the  present  discussion  it  may  be  pointed  out  that  the  purpose  of  the effort to prepare an updated data base, was to ensure the compliance at the  level  of  70%  in  terms  of  filing  of  returns.    The  present  compliance level appears to be far  lower.

 

MY QUESTION FROM ALL OF YOU :

1. Why the system could not be implemented from 2004 - 2010 ? Who is responsible for this ?

2. Why even the Expert committee asked for 70% compliance of filing of returns & not 100% ?