SOLAN, JUL 4
The authorities of Solan Municipal corporation have resolved for recovery of house tax to the tune of lakhs of rupees from country’s first liquor manufacturing company Mohan Meakin, situated on Kalka- Shimla Highway at Brewary. The Solan branch of Mohan Meakin, the country’s first liquor distillery company established in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, has now joined the list of defaulters at the Solan Municipal Corporation.
Mohan Meakin Brewery has reportedly liabilities of property tax to the tune of lakhs of rupees. Reliable sources in the local MC revealed that the company has deposited only one year’s house tax in the last 60 years. Therefore, in the general house meeting of Solan MC, held on Saturday, the councillors passed a resolution concerning collection of house tax, pending to the tune of of lakhs of rupees from the company.
However, the corporation will take legal opinion before giving recovery notice to the company, so that the fastest way for tax recovery of about 90 lakh can be paved. Corporation councilor Shailendra Gupta raised the issue in the meeting of the house that with receipt of this amount, the sources of income of the corporation will increase and development works can be accelerated.
Notably, the then British ruler Edward Abraham Dyer had established India’s first brewery in 1855 in Kasauli, Solan. It established a branch at Brewary near Solan on Highway. It was purchased by HG Mickin from Dyer in 1887.
After independence, Narendra Nath Mohan took over the company and the company was operated under the name of Mohan Meakin.
After the establishment of first urban body by Himachal government in 1960, the house tax collection process was implemented. The company has paid tax for only one year till date.
Interestingly, the company’s founder NN Mohan and his son Kapil Mohan have also remained presidents of the Solan MC. On the other hand, current Municipal Corporation Mayor Poonam Grover said that Mohan Meakin Company has not deposited house tax to the tune of lakhs of rupees to the corporation, regarding which the corporation will first take legal opinion and after the needed lawful process, notice will be slapped for the deposit of pending tax.
The company has been established on one lakh 32 thousand and 409 square meters land. In the initial phase, a total of 205 khasra numbers come under the company in Ber, Padag and Jarai villages.
