Pune Municipal Corporation seals 27 properties in 18 days

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a drive against property tax defaulters. A team of civic officials, along with a brass band, visits a defaulter property and seals it.

As many as 27 properties were sealed in the past 18 days under the drive. Moreover, pending dues amounting to Rs 40.68 crore were recovered from defaulters.

The drive has been launched to act against tax evaders. The Property Tax Department is a major source of revenue for the civic body. There are pending tax dues amounting to crores of rupees. The department has prepared a list of tax defaulters.

The defaulters are initially sent a notice. If they fail to comply with them even after reminders, their properties are sealed amidst a brass band performance. The defaulters include some famous developers and renowned educational institutions. This was revealed by Property Tax Collection Department Head and Deputy Municipal Commissioner Madhav Jagtap.

Property tax bills for FY 2024-25 were sent to 14.80 lakh property owners in the city. As many as 8.84 lakh of them paid property tax of Rs 1,841 crore. However, the remaining six lakh owners did not pay the tax till date. The current year’s civic budget set a target of Rs 2,727 crore for the department.

Rs 850 crore still needs to be recovered. Therefore, the PMC has taken steps. Sealing defaulting properties is a part of the measures. Around Rs 2 crore to 2.5 crore is collected daily.

The Property Tax Department has formed squads to recover tax dues. Notices have already been sent to defaulters. However, many of them ignored the notices. Their list has been prepared by the PMC. Civic officials are visiting defaulters and trying to collect pending dues. The drive will continue in the future too, said Madhav Jagtap.