Pimpri Chinchwad: Owners of Vacant Plots Owe Rs 15 Cr in Tax Dues

Recent disclosures from the Tax Collection and Assessment Department of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) have shed light on a concerning issue: property tax arrears from owners of vacant plots under the erstwhile Pimpri-Chinchwad Navanagar Development Authority’s jurisdiction have surged to Rs. 15 crores.

Adding to this financial strain, professionals in the construction sector, educational institutions, and hospitals together owe a staggering Rs. 882 crores in overdue payments, prompting citizens to demand stringent action against defaulters.

In response, the Tax Collection and Taxation Department has initiated the auction of seized properties due to unpaid taxes, releasing a published list of properties slated for auction. Urging property owners to settle their outstanding dues promptly, the Tax Collection Department underscores the risk of forfeiture of sealed properties. Notably, tax collections for the current fiscal year have surpassed the previous year, reaching Rs. 818 crores, with a targeted goal of Rs. 1,000 crores.

Despite these efforts, the civic administration faces challenges in recovering Rs. 882 crores from approximately one lakh property owners. To expedite tax collection, stringent measures, including property auctions and publicizing names in newspapers, have been implemented. It’s worth noting that the Pimpri-Chinchwad Navanagar Development Authority itself owes Rs. 15.52 crores for vacant spaces, now under the jurisdiction of PMRDA following the merger.

The outstanding dues span across various entities, including Lokmanya Hospital, Deccan Institute of Commerce, goldsmith Rakesh Phulchand Sonigara, Agrawal Developers, Jai Bhavani Roadlines, Amar Transport Corporation, and schools under the Brahmadatta Education Board. In a bid to intensify recovery efforts, the PCMC has commenced publishing the names of defaulters.

In pursuit of the Rs. 1,000 crore target, strict actions against defaulters include disconnections of water connections, mirroring Pune Municipal Corporation’s innovative approach of employing a musical band for houses with significant tax arrears. Residents within PCMC areas advocate for a similar strategy, expressing optimism towards achieving the ambitious tax collection goal.