Delhi parking policy: Experts back changes but residents question ‘harsh’ steps

Hindustan Times

16.6.2017

The draft Parking Policy for Delhi has raised concerns among a section of residents in the Capital even as experts maintain that such “harsh steps” are necessary for public good.

The draft Parking Policy for Delhi has raised concerns among a section of residents in the Capital even as experts maintain that such “harsh steps” are necessary for public good.

Residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) HT spoke to questioned the policy’s rationale behind charging them for every car parked in residential areas. They collectively demanded that every household must be allowed free parking for at least one car.

“Why to charge for parking a car in front of one’s own house? At least one car must be allowed free of cost as one buys a vehicle for own use after paying a lot of taxes,” said BS Vohra of East Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

Other raised issues over the ‘one-time charge’ that every person has to pay for ‘night parking’ while getting a new vehicle registered. They complained that the MCD promised to augment parking lots with the revenue collected from this charge, but no concrete action .

“We are already being charged a decent amount as one-time parking fee. On top of that, if they want to charge extra as road tax and increase parking fees then the MCD must tell us what it has done so far to improve parking lots,” said Pankaj Aggarwal, general secretary of Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

Calling it a “misnomer”, Bhure Lal chairperson of the Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) said that the one-time parking fee is a “meagre amount”. “The fee is Rs 2,000 for a lifetime which is awfully less for a car that not only causes so much traffic but also pollutes the air,” he said.

“The people themselves are the violators and the sufferers. Why do they then convert garages into rooms and shops?” he questioned.

Traders fear if the policy is implemented they would be worst hit. “We were charged a hefty ‘one-time parking fee’ after being told that parking facilities near commercial areas will be developed. Yet people have to park cars on roadsides,” said Sanjay Bhargava, a trader in Chandni Chowk.

However, MCD officials claim that they are constructing parking lots wherever land is available. “It is not true that we have not done anything. Whatever space we got we have developed them for parking like we did near 40 Metro stations,” said an official of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The Parking Policy for Delhi proposes to charge more for daytime parking in residential areas and for peak hours in commercial areas. Besides, to discourage people from buying multiple cars, it says road tax would be increased on an incremental basis for those who buy more than one car.

“Around 2012, the Sheila Dikshit government had announced it would levy parking charges in residential areas. But that never happened. So it has to be seen what happens to this policy,” added Aggarwal.

Vohra suggested that the government must instead restrict the number of vehicles in a manner that one can buy a new vehicle only on surrendering the old one.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Parking policy ?

Dear Mr, Vohra ji,

As you are fully aware that the MCD since its trifurcation has become financially unsound and is unable to meet its duties and functions. Poor people like sweepers etc. are not being paid their legitimate salaries etc, but expect them to do their duties diligently. How can you expect the poor people who entirely depend on their wages based on the toil to meet their basic requirements like food, shelter etc. Why the MLAs and Councillors contribute their mite. sacrifice a little of their comforts or forego their luxuries for the time being to mop the resources of the MCD to enable them to pay their salaries! NO, we cannot expect as they are made people's representatives to make speeches and false promises but not to deliver the promises made and meet the requirements of poor people!

There are many ways to mop the resources of the MCD. One of them being the property tax. If the tax is collected on time i.e. by the end of April each year, hold camps for the purpose in all recognized colonies where the RWAs are only too willing to help and interest earned thereon could increase the balance in their coffers. It is learnt that not more than 60% owners are paying the property tax, what is the difficulty in arranging to collect from the rest by making all out efforts to do so! Secondly, I consider that this being the main source of income, apart from others, why not uniformally and periodically increase the rate of tax on a reasonable basis without giving any rebate to the tax payers. With the increase in the cost all round, this little sacrifice has to be done by all of us! This is my personal opinion. There is no harm in charging parking fee of a reasonable amount from the owners of vehicles, which are normally parked in the vacant spaces in front of their residential units by removing all encroachments, including kitchen gardens etc. uniformally without exception, restricting the number of vehicles that could accommodate within their premises, as otherwise they have to pay hefty amount, if they park their cars etc. at other places on a regular basis. This should be considered as an encroachment. A time has come that while approving colonies for residential accommodation, they do have enough parking space which should be depicted in the approved plan, failing which no permssion will be given, like in many other countries e.g. Japan, Singapore etc. We are having an acute shortage of space for the purpose of parking of vehicles. A time has come that we may have to sacrifice even parks, nursery plots etc. earmarked for the purpose to facilitate parking of cars, which are taking place unauthorizedly in many colonies. We have find ways and means which are feasible on an immediate basis to solve the problem, which is mounting up, creating law and order problem in colonies on a daily basis!

Of course morfe innovative suggestions could be made but they should be practical, feasible of adoption on an urgent basis and could be considered for adoption, even if necessary on a nominal payment!

With regards,

TK Balu/Anand Vihar

Deterrence policy for Delhiites

Deterrence policy for Delhiites : Pay hefty sums for #parking your own #car, in front of your own #home, and with more money in the coffers, they will plan yet another #deterrence for you. 

It can be called deterrence, if it’s applicable to the buyers of new cars only.  How can they call it deterrence, if the existing car holders are made to pay hefty amounts, on the name of #parking ?

Under this policy, those who can afford, will be free to own multiple number of vehicles, with no care for the pollution and congestion, while those who can't afford, will have to suffer.

Don’t you think, that they are just trying to add to their coffers with nothing in mind for the general public.

Don't you think that Govt can do much more, and in a much better way, for the benefit of masses ?

Awaiting your comments. Thanks.

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GST: Traders body asks FM to lower rates for Horlicks, Complan, butter, sanitary napkins

Ahead of a crucial meeting of Centre and state ministers on goods and services tax (GST), traders’ body CAIT has urged finance minister Arun Jaitley to review the levy on food items including Bournvita, Horlicks, Complan, butter, ghee and sanitary napkins.

The GST Council, headed by Jaitley, will meet on Saturday to finalise the GST rates for some of the pending items before the country’s biggest tax reform is implemented from July 2017.

“Malt-based products like Bournvita, Horlicks, Complan, Boost and AmulPro and other similar products, which are consumed by children, have been placed at 28%. The GST Council should consider a lower rate for these items,” Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) secretary general Praveen Khandelwal told HT on phone.

In a letter to Jaitley, CAIT said the proposed tax rate on tractors and auto spares should be lowered for the interest of farmers.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

Spare parts traders protest 28% GST

NEW DELHI: Traders of Asia's largest spare parts market Kasmiri Gate on Monday protested against the 28% GST on car spare parts, tractor parts and car accessories. They said the hike was exorbitant and likely to affect the growth of their business.

Traders from Mori Gate who are engaged in tractor parts' business also participated in the protest and marched through the market. "Only 12% VAT is charged on auto parts and car accessories, which has been increased to 28%," said Vishnu Bhargava, general secretary of Automotive Parts Merchants' Associations.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.

GST rates for gold, garments, footwear out. Here’s how much you have to pay

The Centre finalised on Saturday goods and services tax (GST) rates for items such as gold, packaged food, biscuits, footwear and solar panels – besides some pending rules – paving the way for the country’s biggest tax reform from July 1.

The GST Council has tried to keep the tax rates low for most items because the Narendra Modi government wants to discourage inflation and nurture economic growth, which slipped to 7.1% in 2016-17 from 8% a year ago.

THE NEW FIGURES UNDER GST

• The new regime will have four slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%
• Packaged food has been fixed at 5%, while biscuits will be taxed at 18%
• Gold will be taxed at 3% as against the current tax incidence of 2-6%
• Apparel costing below Rs 1,000 will be taxed at 5%
• Footwear below Rs 500 will be taxed at 5% while the rest would come in the 18% bracket.
• Beedi and beedi leaf will not attract a cess over and above the tax of 28%
• Most food items – including wheat, rice and milk excepted from the tax bracket
• Sugar, tea, coffee and edible oil, would attract 5% tax
• GST Council decided the tax rates for 1,200 goods and 500 services

The council will meet again on June 11 to complete all the processes required for a smooth rollout. The new regime will have four slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%, with the intention of unifying the nation into a single market.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said the GST rates for packaged food has been fixed at 5%, while biscuits will be taxed at 18%. Gold will be taxed at 3% as against the current tax incidence of 2-6%, varying from state to state, while it will be 0.25% for rough diamonds.

“Gold currently has an excise rate of 1% and states charge 1% VAT... keeping these taxes in mind, and after a lot of debate in the GST Council, we have reached a consensus on 3% for gold and gold jewellery,” Jaitley told reporters after a meeting of the GST Council.

Silk and jute will be exempt, but cotton and natural fibre will be taxed at 5%, man-made fibres at 18%, and apparel costing below Rs 1,000 will be taxed at 5%. Footwear below Rs 500 will be taxed at 5% while the rest would come in the 18% bracket.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

GST makes India inhospitable, says tourism sector

Owners of hotels, restaurateurs and tourism-related facilities disappointed with high rates, say GST is unviable

The rates announced by the Goods and Services Tax Council on Friday has comes as a shocker to the hospitality industry. Four tax slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% have been fixed for services including telecom, insurance, hotels and restaurants.

Expressing disappointment, the hospitality sector said the rates are too complex, high and uncompetitive, and said they will be approaching Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma for a review of the rates. The GST Council announced that non-AC restaurants will charge 12% GST on food, AC restaurants and those with liquor licence 18% per cent, and five star hotels will charge a GST of 28%.

Dilip Datwani, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Western India (HRAWI) told The Hindu, “The government should realise that taxes in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia range between 5% and 10%. We cannot afford to have this complex and high-rate GST. This is simply not viable. Tourists will simply skip India.”

with thanks : The Hindu : LINK : for detailed news