The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is in a fix with the growing opposition from people as well as main opposition parties over abnormal increase of property tax and is succumbing to the pressures from all circles.

The Mayor, Mr P. Janardhana Rao, decided to convene a meeting with floor leaders of all parties on September 6. In the first round issuance of demand notices, many irregularities were committed in noting plinth area, and levying tax, which compounded the problem. Owner, of S.V.N. Computers and Peripherals, on the Diamond Park road, Dwarakanagar in Zone-10, Mr Karun Sridhar, was levied a tax of Rs 20,241 for six months against his earlier half-yearly tax of Rs 845.

Mr Karun said that he was at a loss to understand how the officials levied abnormal tax, without even taking actual plinth area, or previous tax into account. He demanded that the corporation immediately reduce the tax.Meanwhile, the opposition parties have decided to intensify their stir demanding roll back of the tax hike as the corporation was not responding to their appeals at all.

Mr Janardhana Rao, rushed to Hyderabad on Friday, and sources close to him said that he will meet the Chief Minister and the municipal administration minister to apprise them of strong opposition on the tax hike.

“Chances are there that the mayor would convince higher-ups seeking considerable reduction in the recently modified tax structure,”