budget 07/08: Issues about the profession?

Just back from a longish briefing on the Budget that I had requested
some economics and company secretary types.

So three questions,

	one, Heritage properties are now covered by wealth tax,
		what exactly does this mean in the context of
		the ownership of listed buildings? Would experts
		in this area interpret this as a clear signal
		designed to stimulate a Heritage properties
		marketplace - something some of them have long
		been anticipating?

	two, the tax holiday for research works when conducted
		in association with institutions has been extended
		by another five years. Although I am not aware of
		any Industry-Institution partnership where
		Schools of Architecture are participating, I
		wonder if people are thinking about this type of
		a thing.

		Also, does this suggest a way forward
		for Architexturez, we need funds, but did not want
		to register some NGO. I know for sure that
		associations of professionals have been incredibly
		powerful in the country -- even if they are not
		acknowledged as such.

	three, service tax, multiple breaks and minor adjustments;
		anyone has observations?

There is a lot on real estate and construction industries, which I will
not comment (as I am not a qualified planner, and only certified gold
medalist planners are allowed to talk about this stuff on Architexturez
- or so I have been told), except, I don't know why they have to gift
25,000 cr to the airlines and cellphone companies (who should be paying
us back about 2,00,000 cr they already owe us) and I am not sure
how the budget is even going to begin to pay for JNNURM!

- anand