The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently engaged in a bit of firefighting as sparks fly over its decision to levy a ‘fire service fee’ that will be recovered from residents with retrospective effect from Dec 2008. In fact, the corporation is already charging a four per cent ‘fire tax’, as part of the general assessment tax. This provision exists since 1936.

That’s a bit steep! The rate of the new tax will vary from building to building – the taller the structure, the higher the tax. Representation pic