For the first time ever, the Agra Municipal Corporation has issued a notice to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to pay Rs 1.47 lakh as house tax on the Taj Mahal along with Rs 1.94 crore as water tax within 15 days or else the property would be “attached.”
ASI officials have been caught by surprise as the Taj Mahal was declared a protected monument in 1920 and no taxes were paid on it even during the days of British rule. House and water taxes are not applicable on protected monuments. The notice states that the bills are for the financial year 2021-22 and 2022-23.
ASI superintending archaeologist Raj Kumar Patel said, “Notices related to water and property tax for Taj Mahal have been received for the first time. It could have been sent by mistake.”
He told the Times of India, “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.”
Municipal commissioner Nikhil T Funde said he was unaware of tax-related proceedings related to the Taj Mahal and fresh notices were based on the geographic information system (GIS) survey carried out for calculating 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,” the Times of India cited Funde as saying.
