BATHINDA, May 3 -- In a setback to Bathinda mayor Paramjeet Mehta, the municipal corporation on Friday put on hold his proposal to waive off the pending property tax of Rs.85 lakh of a city-based shopping mall.

During today's general house meeting, councillor Sandeep Kumar was the first to object to arbitrary relaxation. Kumar said instead of pressing the mall management to clear all dues to fill the coffers of the MC, the urban local body authorities acted hastily.

"The mall authorities wrote to the mayor for tax relief on March 26 and it was processed and approved in less than 15 days. About 19,500 city residents have been served notices to clear property taxes or face strict action. While the owner of a palatial shopping arcade has b...