Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday announced a Rs 147 crore property tax and user-charge relief package covering 3.54 lakh residential and commercial properties. The move aims to ease the financial burden on residents and businesses as recovery efforts after recent flooding continue.The SMC standing committee approved property tax and user-charge relief for flood-affected citizens and businesses, with the extent of the benefit varying by property type and floor level.For residential properties, the SMC announced tax relief for all floors. A total of 3,04,100 residential properties have been identified under the scheme, covering a combined area of 1.13 crore square metres. The total tax relief for residential properties is estimated to be Rs 73 crore.For commercial properties, tax relief will apply only to basement and ground-floor portions. SMC identified 50,500 commercial properties under the scheme, covering a combined area of 99 lakh square metres. The tax relief for commercial properties is estimated to be Rs 74 crore.Overall, the relief package applies to 3.54 lakh properties across the city, with a total tax forgone of Rs 147 crore.“For the 3.54 lakh properties, Rs 147 crore tax relief is being announced. In commercial properties, the tax is calculated on pro rata basis of carpet area,” said Rajan Patel.Water supply issuesSMC office-bearers had received complaints about low water-supply pressure, and the issue came up during the standing committee meeting on Saturday.Officials said complaints were being reported more frequently from flood-affected areas, where cleaning operations are still underway and demand for water remains high. The committee directed civic officers to take immediate measures to restore and maintain adequate pressure across the network.The administration has been asked to prioritise affected localities and ensure uninterrupted water distribution to support sanitation and recovery work. Residents in several neighbourhoods reported difficulties in accessing sufficient water for daily needs.Waterlogging issuesThe standing committee also discussed recurring waterlogging in several parts of the city after recent brief spells of rain.Officials said drainage lines have become choked with silt deposited during the floods, reducing carrying capacity. Garbage entering drains are causing frequent blockages and slowing water discharge.The committee directed the concerned departments to expedite desilting and cleaning operations across affected zones. Officials have been instructed to complete the work at the earliest and submit a detailed compliance report before the next committee meeting.
