Chandigarh, May 1 -- In a significant move, the BJP-led Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) House on Wednesday approved a proposal to extend the recently implemented property tax hike to government buildings, which had been exempted by the UT administration.

The decision, however, still requires UT approval to come into effect.

On March 31, the UT administration had approved a steep hike in property tax for residential and commercial properties starting April 1, but chose to exempt government-owned buildings from the increased rates.

The decision sparked sharp criticism from city residents and opposition leaders alike, especially given that government buildings collectively owe a staggering Rs.250 crore in unpaid property taxes, furt...