PMC earns Rs.1600 crore in property tax; faces challenge to meet Rs. 2400 crore target
PMC earns Rs.1600 crore in property tax; faces challenge to meet Rs. 2400 crore target
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has collected approximately Rs 1,600 crore in property tax during the first two quarters of the current financial year. However, the civic administration faces a challenging target of Rs 2,400 crore to be met by March 2025, according to a PMC official.
As of now, around 9.16 lakh property owners have paid their taxes, but nearly 5.05 lakh owners have yet to make their payments. Of the total collections, Rs 990 crore has come from online payments, while Rs 610 crore has been collected offline, including cash and cheques.
Residents in the 34 merged areas have expressed strong opposition to any increase in property tax. They argue that the PMC has not provided adequate facilities in these areas, such as quality roads, clean water, and sewage treatment. Currently, the PMC has not recovered Rs 1,245 crore in taxes from these merged regions.
The civic body previously organized a drive to seal the properties of tax defaulters, but this initiative was halted after complaints from local leaders and residents about the heavy charges, especially ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in March 2024.
In the previous financial year, PMC collected around Rs 2,280 crore from property tax and Rs 2,400 crore from building permissions. To enhance tax recovery, the PMC has implemented various measures, including a special drive for tax collection and actions like property confiscation and auctions.
The PMC continues to work on strategies to meet its tax collection goals while addressing residents’ concerns.
