The Delhi Government (through MCD) has established the ‘scheme’ to join hands with RWA’s to ensure improvement in waste management and property tax collection. Towards this, MCD has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with URJA (United Residents Joint Action Group-a body representing more than 2500 RWA’s in Delhi) in the first week of Jan 2023.
URJA is of the view that participation of citizens through their respective RWAs can immensely improve governance. Under the ‘Sahbhagita Scheme’, (which is felicitated by URJA), all the RWA’s which are 90% property tax compliant can use 10% of the property tax paid subject to a maximum limit of Rs 1,00,000 as incentive for development work in their respective colony. This incentive amount will be available only if the concerned RWA collects property tax from at least 90% of the total households in that colony.
As part of the scheme, RWA’s are supposed to list area wise RWA’s and share the number of total housing units under them with MCD. MCD will create an escrow account to park the 10% incentive amount of the concerned RWA and commit to spend it within the fixed timelines. A ‘Sahbhagita Cell’ will also be constituted, which will be manned by officials of the property tax department, to coordinate the activities of eligible RWA’s across zones and provide all possible assistance. Representatives of URJA will work closely with this ‘Sahbhagita Cell’ to improve tax collection. In addition, an additional incentive of 5% of the tax paid will also be available if 100% segregation of waste at source, composting of wet waste in the colony, recycling of the recyclable dry waste and 100% of the remaining dry waste is handed over to the MCD or its authorized agency.
The MCD will ensure hassle-free online system/app for registration of RWAs under participation on its web portal. The eligibility of RWAs for 5% wet waste incentive will be confirmed by the deputy commissioner (DC). As of today, registration of RWA’s under ‘Sahbhagita’ has been made live to claim 10% incentive on 90% tax compliance and additional 5% wet waste incentive. RWAs can enroll through https://mcdonline.nic.in.to avail the benefits. As soon as the application for eligibility under wet waste disposal incentive is received online, it shall be the duty of the Sahbhagita Cell to inform the same to the Joint Assessor and Collector of the zone, who shall forward the same to the Zonal Deputy Commissioner who will coordinate with the concerned RWA. After deliberation and coordination with the concerned RWA, a tender will be called for the development work as recommended by the RWA or procurement order will be placed on the GeM portal within 15 days. All efforts will be made to complete the development work within three months. This is a golden opportunity. With a little bit of effort, we can claim the incentive of Rs. 1, 00, 000 for development works in our colony. We are now, at the fag-end of this financial year. Majority of the residents have already paid their taxes. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the target of 90% collection, with just a little bit of effort. In the meantime, let us try and persuade, convince and cajole our residents to pay their property tax in their own interest and in the interest of the colony and in the interest of city at large.
by Ruma Sikka with inputs from URJA
