Taj Mahal served notice for property tax and water bills
For the first time in its 370-year history, the Taj Mahal in Agra, which attracts millions of tourists to India every year has been served notices for property tax 1.40 lakh and water bills Rs 1.92 crore for the first time Three notices have been received so far, two for the Taj Mahal and one for the Agra Fort, ASI’s superintending archaeologist in Agra.
Officials of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) have called the move a mistake and are hoping that it would be remedied soon. Both the Taj Mahal and the Agra fort have been served notices for outstanding bills by various units of the Uttar Pradesh government.
As per news and media report the Taj Mahal, we have got two notices, one for property tax and the other from the water supply department that has 12 points. A total of 1 crore plus rupees has been demanded from the ASI The official said it had to be an error as such taxes don’t apply for monuments.
The officials said property tax or house tax is not applicable to monument premises. Uttar Pradesh laws have this provision too and so do other states. As for the water notice, in the past no such demand has been made and we do not have any water connection that we use for any commercial purposes. The lawns that we maintain inside the Taj complex are for public service and there is no question of dues as per news and media report.
The Mughal rulers of the Mughal Dynasty lived in the Agra fort, a UNESCO world heritage site constructed by Akbar, as their main residence up until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. This historic monument has also received a five-crore rupee tax demand, according to ASI officials.
