Pune : Collection of penalty over property tax in newly-merged 34 villages in PMC suspended

On Monday (11^th March), the state government finally took notice of the dissatisfaction of citizens regarding property tax and penalty triple taxation on unauthorized constructions in the newly-included villages. Collection of arrears of property tax and 2 percent penalty on unauthorized construction in 34 villages has been suspended. This decision of the state government has given temporary relief to nearly four lakh property tax payers in the newly-included villages.

As per further information from the state government order accessed by Pune Pulse, “The state government informs that the penalty for illegal construction in 34 villages newly included in the Pune Municipal Corporation and the recovery of 2% penalty (delay amount) levied on the annual arrears of property tax is being suspended till further instructions.”

34 villages have been included in the PMC in a phased manner. After that, the respective villages were started to be taxed by the Municipal Corporation as per the rules. Citizens had started expressing their anger for a few months, alleging that the PMC property tax was higher than that of the gram panchayat, and that the municipal corporation was levying three times the tax.

So, citizens of the affected villages met Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and presented their grievances before him. At that time, he had assured the citizens that the government order would be published promptly.

Also, the Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar was ordered not to collect tax by the Municipal Corporation, the proposal in this regard was approved in the cabinet meeting held on Monday and the collection of 2 percent penalty tax was suspended until further order.

Shreyas Vange