Over 1000 properties seized by PCMC for non-payment of property tax

On behalf of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) tax collection and taxation department, the property confiscation of people, defaulting to pay property tax, has been started.

Pradeep Jambhale Patil, Additional Commissioner, PCMC, said “Expressions of interest have been invited to speed up the auction valuation process of the seized properties. Applications from three Government Valuers have been received so far. The process of getting them on the panel will be completed this week. After that a legal auction will be called. In order to avoid such unpleasant action, the property owners whose property has been confiscated are requested to pay the property tax immediately and avoid the action. I am reviewing it weekly on a personal level.”

Nilesh Deshmukh, Assistant Commissioner, PCMC, said “All efforts are being made by the tax collection department to achieve the target of one thousand crores. Appeals are being made repeatedly through social media and media. Each zone has been given a target of daily seizure and closure of tap connections. The campaign will be intensified till March 31. It is inevitable to take action on residential properties that have not paid tax for 8 to 10 years despite financial capacity. As per the instructions of the Hon’ble Additional Commissioner, emphasis is also being laid on the recovery of water bodies.”

Direct action has been taken against 1 thousand 12 property holders, 346 properties were sealed, confiscation warrants were issued on 538 properties, the water connection of 128 property owners were disconnected. Due to this, the owners of the outstanding property have panicked. A warning has been given by the Municipal Corporation to intensify the confiscation campaign in the remaining one and a half months. The daily target is at least 500 for the rest of the day to seal assets, seize assets and shut down tap connections.

At this rate, all properties with outstanding amounts above fifty thousand will be seized or sealed by March 31. This should be seriously considered by the defaulters. Especially the number of people who have not paid taxes for 8 to 10 years despite their financial status is significant. This is harmful for the development of the municipality.

There are 6 lakh 15 thousand residential, non-residential, commercial, industrial etc registered properties in Pimpri Chinchwad city. The Municipal Corporation has 17 zones for tax collection from these property holders. Also, the facility of paying taxes online and through various apps has been made available. In the financial year 2023-24, so far 4,31,000 property owners have deposited a tax of Rs 746 crore in the municipal treasury.

Pimpri Chinchwad city has a large number of residential property owners. In this, 1 lakh 82 thousand 665 property owners owe tax of Rs. 419 crores. 183 crores to non-residential property holders and Rs 92 crores to vacant land owners along with Rs 769 crores 72 lakhs owed to other property holders. These outstanding property holders were repeatedly called upon to pay taxes. However, the municipal corporation has turned its attention against the arrears of residential property owners who neglect to pay tax despite repeated appeals.

Even as technology is developing in the 21st century, ‘Hi-Tech’ facilities are being used very well by the tax collection and taxation department of the Municipal Corporation. How much arrears are owed by the flat holders in the housing societies where the tax is arrears, the foreclosure action is being publicly announced. Other property owners are also requested to pay tax immediately.

The number of outstanding assets as per utilization is as follows:

·         Residential – 1 lakh 82 thousand 665

·         Non-residential – 22 thousand 165

·         Industrial – 1 thousand 389

·         Mixed – 6 thousand 526

·         Vacancies – 5 thousand 402

·         Others – 237

Shreyas Vange