The popular world tourist and heritage site, the Taj Mahal in Agra which draws massive footfall of tourists in India each year , had been issued a notice of property tax and water bills worth Rs 1 crore from Agra Municipal Corporation for the first time in its 370-year history. This is the first time that the world heritage site has received property tax and water tax notice.
According to officials of the ASI, a notice for water tax and one for property tax has been issued. Besides another heritage Itmad-ud-Daulah has also been issued notice for property and water tax .
The officials of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) call it to be a mistake which they hope to get rectified soon .
As per latest reports The ASI has been asked to pay more than ₹ 1 crore in “dues”.
ASI’s superintending archaeologist in Agra, Raj Kumar Patel, confirmed to NDTV that three notices have been received so far, two for the Taj Mahal and one for the Agra Fort.
While speaking to media ASI superintending archaeologist Raj Kumar Patel said that the notice was actually an error as taxes don’t apply for monuments.
He was quoted as saying in ZeeNews , “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 received for the first time. It could have been sent by mistake.”
The beautiful and world famous Tajmahal which is a UNESCO heritage site was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Agra on the banks of Yamuna between 1631 and 1648 in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz.. The beautiful masterpiece made of white marble which is also a prominent example of the Mughal architecture in India attracts a huge number of tourists from all around the world every year.
