Taj Mahal receives Rs 1 crore water bill notice for the first time in history

• Image Credit: Google

• Dec 20, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Meanwhile, the AMC is looking into the case as a private company was tasked with collecting taxes based on a GIS study...

Digital Desk: For the first time in history, the famed Taj Mahal has received a water bill, property tax, and a warning from the Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC) in case dues are not paid.

According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Taj Mahal has been charged Rs 1 crore as water tax and Rs 1.4 lakh as property tax. The bills are for the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The Agra Municipal Corporation also asked the ASI to clear the unpaid debts within 15 days, threatening that the property would be "attached" if they did not.

While speaking to the media, ASI's Superintending Archaeologist (Agra Circle) Raj Patel said, "A notice for water tax and one for property tax has been issued. The property tax is around Rs 1.40 lakh and the water tax is around Rs 1 crore."

"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 the Taj Mahal have been received for the first time. It could have been sent by mistake," he added.

Meanwhile, the AMC is looking into the case as a private company was tasked with collecting taxes based on a GIS study.

As per ASI officials, the Taj Mahal had been declared a protected monument in 1920, and even during the British regime, no house or water tax had been levied on the monument.