Pune News : Uncertainty to pay property tax remains even after govt announces 40% waiver
Pune : Property Tax Defaulters To Face Bandbaja, PMC's Unconventional Tactic To Recover Dues
Pune: Residents of the newly merged villages in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) as well as those living in the city limits are in a state of confusion as to whether to pay or not to pay the property tax. While the State Government had announced a 40% waiver on property tax, no official Government Resolution (GR) has been issued yet, leaving residents uncertain about whether the waiver will be implemented.
The PMC has extended the deadline to pay property tax to April 30 from the original deadline of March 31. However, residents are hesitant to pay the tax without an official announcement of the waiver.
“We residents of Wagholi are against the property tax charged by Pune Municipal Corporation. As already they have charged the double property tax whereas there has been no infrastructure, even no budget has been sanctioned for basic amenities. Therefore, residents of Wagholi are against paying the property tax and even if we will get 40% rebate we are against it,” said Sanjeev Patil, Director of Wagholi Housing Societies Association.
Meanwhile, residents of Bavdhan are paying 60% tax, with an expectation that a waiver will be announced soon. “Yet there is no official GR announced for the waiver of 40% property tax but the residents of Bavdhan are only paying 60% of property tax. As the local BJP leader has told that as the cabinet meeting has not been conducted the waiver is not announced officially but the decision is being made. And whoever pays 100 percent property tax will get 40% amount back,” said Nachiket Deshpande of Bavdhan Citizen Forum.
While some residents are confused, others are paying the property tax regardless of the lack of clarity on the waiver. “We have not received any information about this rebate, but we residents are paying the property tax. Our only demand is that we should get at least basic amenities from PMC,” said Neeraj Dhanwate, a resident of Manjri.
Director of Keshav Nagar Welfare Association (KENWA) Ranjeet Lonkar said, “Residents of Keshav nagar are in a confused state as the decision is announced but not implemented. And therefore we had visited the Zone office to get the information where they told that the decision has to get final approval in Cabinet and then it will come into effect. Few residents are paying the tax. Whereas, not for this term but the waiver will be made in next property tax bill which will be generated in April.”
“The state government has decided to give 40 percent property tax exemption but no decision has yet been made in the Cabinet meeting. Its GR has not been issued. The day when the GR will be issued by the government, the Municipal Corporation will take a decision,” said Ajit Deshmukh, PMC Property tax department.
The decision to cancel the 40 percent concession to property holders of Pune, was taken in 2018 following to which the PMC had issued notices to the property holders to pay the tax amount with concession. In 1970, the law committee of PMC had given a proposal to give concession to those property owners who occupy their own properties.
“Residents are into confused state whether to pay the property tax or not. We have not taken any decision on behalf of federation but are discussing on it. As yet the GR has not been issued,” said, Ramesh Rokade of Balewadi Residents Forum.
