Pune: Residents Of 34 Newly Merged Villages Face Property Tax and Penalty Issues, Seek Relief From PMC And State GovtÂ
Pune: Residents Of 34 Newly Merged Villages Face Property Tax and Penalty Issues, Seek Relief From PMC And State GovtÂ
As the Lok Sabha elections approached, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had initially halted the collection of property tax arrears and triple penalties for unauthorized constructions in villages newly incorporated into the PMC. However, six months later, no final decision has been made. This delay has led to the PMC actively pursuing payment of arrears and penalties, causing distress among villagers.
Over the past year, PMC has collected Rs. 316.88 crore in taxes, while the total arrears have reached Rs. 1,783 crore. In 2017, 11 villages were included in the PMC jurisdiction, followed by 23 more in 2021, totaling 34 villages. Tax collection began in these areas, where the PMC’s tax rates are significantly higher compared to previous gram panchayats, leading to widespread discontent among residents. Unauthorized constructions and numerous sheds in these areas have led to triple penalties, heavily impacting the owners of warehouses and large showrooms.
Residents are particularly frustrated as the PMC provides inadequate infrastructure services such as roads, water, sewage, and electricity, yet demands higher taxes. In response to this, the residents had approached Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar before the elections and presented their grievances. The state government then decided to suspend the collection of arrears and penalties until further orders.
Despite this, the PMC has continued to send messages to residents demanding payment of overdue taxes and penalties. The state government has yet to make a decision on reducing or waiving these amounts, leaving villagers anxious and concerned.
