Residents Protest Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation’s House Tax Hike: Citizens Demand Justification and Better Civic Services

Ghaziabad | May 25, 2025

The recent decision by the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation to increase house tax has sparked strong outrage across the city, with residents accusing civic authorities of burdening them without offering even basic amenities in return. In a joint meeting held today, Senior Citizens’ Forum and the Flat Owners’ Federation condemned the tax hike and demanded immediate clarification from the Municipal Commissioner.

Mounting Concerns over Poor Civic Services

At the heart of the protest lies the dissatisfaction with inadequate public services. Residents complained of daily struggles with poor sanitation, irregular water supply, erratic electricity, and crumbling infrastructure. “Before increasing taxes, the Corporation must first ensure basic livability in the city,” said Rajkumar Tyagi, President of the Flat Owners’ Federation.

“Paying more for less makes no sense. The Corporation has failed to deliver even fundamental services, and now they expect us to pay more? This is unacceptable,” added Captain Gopal Singh, Federation General Secretary.

Legal and Ethical Questions Raised

The protestors also highlighted that the matter is already under judicial review, making the tax hike not only unjustified but also potentially legally questionable. No official statement has yet been released by the Municipal Commissioner, creating further frustration and confusion among citizens.

“This silence from the authorities is deeply disturbing. There’s no transparency, no consultation with stakeholders, and certainly no plan to improve the situation,” said Retired Judge R.K. Gupta, a senior member of the Senior Citizens’ Forum.

Key Figures at the Meeting

Today’s joint meeting saw active participation from community leaders and concerned citizens. Notable attendees included:

• Flat Owners’ Federation: Rajkumar Tyagi (President), Captain Gopal Singh (General Secretary), Sharad Singhal (Senior Citizens’ Cell Head), and M.K. Aggarwal (Media Head)
• Senior Citizens’ Forum: Retired Judge R.K. Gupta, Omprakash Lodhi, Mahakaal Shukla, Arun Sharma, Ved Prakash Verma, Shivendra Gaur, and Anil Gupta

Many others joined the session online to show solidarity.

The Road Ahead

Both organizations have declared that protests will continue until the Municipal Commissioner provides a clear explanation. The groups are also calling for a detailed action plan on how civic amenities will be improved in exchange for the increased tax burden.

“We’re not just opposing the tax-we’re standing up for responsible governance,” emphasized Manoj Aggarwal, Media Coordinator for the Raj Nagar Extension Unit of the Flat Owners’ Federation.