Rollback access tax, Khaira urges CM

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 14

Punjbai Ekta Party leader Sukhpal Khaira today said the Congress government had imposed an “unannounced draconian access tax” of up to Rs 6 lakh on all commercial properties along the national and state highways and link roads in the garb of granting them access to roads. He demanded immediate rollback of the tax, terming it unethical and unlawful.

Khaira alleged that a huge tax liability had been imposed on the people of the state without any formal announcement or obtaining the concurrence of the Vidhan Sabha.

He said the PWD had issued notices to thousands of owners of commercial properties such as petrol pumps, marriage palaces, hotels, restaurants, workshops and other businesses in urban and rural areas to deposit access tax.

For instance, petrol pump owners had been asked to pay a lump sum access tax of Rs 4 lakh for a five-year tenure on state highways, Rs 3.25 lakh on major district roads, Rs 2.50 lakh on district roads and link roads, he added.

He claimed that the notices had also been issued to properties located on the national highways and falling within the MC limits, where the PWD had no authority.