Hyderabad erupted in political tension on September 12 as MLAs from the Bharatiya Janata Party and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen voiced sharp opposition to the state's proposed Core Urban Region Bill. They warned the legislation could effectively double property taxes every year—a concern that has citizens and representatives on edge.

Key facts

  • BJP and AIMIM MLAs oppose the Core Urban Region (Integrated Governance) Bill, 2026
  • Critics argue property tax could double annually under new capital value system
  • Minister D. Sridhar Babu states the apex council will have only an advisory role

Opposition Sounds the Alarm

P. Harish Babu of the BJP didn’t mince words. He faulted the proposed shift from annual rental value to capital value for property tax assessment, calling it a violation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment. His voice carried a mix of frustration and urgency as he highlighted fears that ward committees would be stripped of power, with a governing council led by the Chief Minister holding all authority.

Akbaruddin Owaisi, AIMIM’s floor leader, echoed these concerns with palpable skepticism. He questioned the logic behind assessing tax based on capital value, labeling it unreasonable. His tone sharpened as he described the proposed executive council as a "super body" that could overshadow elected municipal representatives—a move, he warned, ripe for legal challenge.

Broader Grievances and Demands

The criticism didn’t stop at taxes. Owaisi pointed to vague provisions around water and sewerage charges, mutation of properties, and unclear staffing plans. He pressed for municipal bodies to receive their fair share of motor vehicle and profession taxes—a long-standing issue—and urged a remodel of the city’s drainage systems.

His final suggestion hung in the air like a practical solution: send the Bill to a Select Committee. Make it clearer, fairer, more attuned to people’s lives. And then, almost as an aside, he faulted the government for awarding a ₹1,400 crore underground cabling contract to a single company—a detail that added fuel to the fire.

Government’s Reassurance

Minister D. Sridhar Babu responded with calm authority, trying to ease the rising anxiety. His message was clear: the apex council is advisory, not authoritative. Mayors and corporators, he insisted, will keep their independence. But in a room thick with doubt, his words seemed to hang in the balance—promising relief, yet leaving room for wariness.

“The apex council would have only an advisory role,” Minister Babu stated, aiming to temper fears.

As the debate closed, one thing felt certain: this Bill, and the concerns around it, are far from settled.