Determined to go-ahead with its plans to assess property tax based on capital value of structures, the Thane Municipal Corporation is likely to make a strong pitch for reforms in the tax structure through a signed affidavit that is to be filed in the HC. TMC's legal department officials are said to be in the final stages of preparing the affidavit. The civic administration is will stick to its stands on revising the property tax structures when its lawyers will argue its case in the court shortly.

Municipal commissioner RA Rajeev had announced the reforms initiative in March and proposed to calculate tax on properties based on the prevailing ready reackoner rates, as against the rental rates. The civic chief had also proposed a citizen-friendly scheme wherein owners were to assess the tax on their properties based on various parameters. However, citizen activist opposed Rajeev's move and dragged the corporation to the HC seeking to maintain a status quo on the tax issue. Political parties too echoed support to the citizens campaign.

However, ignoring citizen's sentiment and the lack of political support for the new property tax regime, the civic administration will push for its case in the HC. It is time that people realize that just like they pay annual returns on their income, they should also for file for tax assessment on their property annually,'' a senior civic official said.