Agra, Dec 20, 2022: In a first, the Agra Municipal Corporation has sent notices to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) urging it to pay Rs 1.9 crore in the form of water tax and Rs 1.5 lakh in the form of property tax on the Taj Mahal, a protected monument. The bills are pertaining to the financial year 2021-22 and 2022-23.
ASI has been directed to clear the outstanding dues within 15 days, failure to do which the property (Taj Mahal) would be “attached” if the tax was not cleared within the stipulated time.
ASI superintending archaeologist Raj Kumar Patel stated, “property tax is not applicable on monuments. We are also not liable to pay taxes for water as there is no commercial use of it. Water is used to maintain greenery within the premises. Notices related to water and property tax for
Taj Mahal have been sent for the first time. It could have been sent by mistake.”
Municipal commissioner Nikhil T Funde said, “I am not aware about the tax-related proceedings related to the Taj Mahal. Fresh notices are being sent based on the statewide geographic information system (GIS) survey conducted for calculation of taxes. All premises, including government buildings and religious sites, have been issued notices based on dues pending on them. Rebate is provided following due process of law. In the case of notices issued to ASI, required action will be taken on the basis of response received from them.”
ASI officials expressed that the Taj Mahal had been declared a protected monument in 1920 and that even during the British regime, no house or water tax had been levied on the monument.
