Pune : Rs 5182 crore in arrears from 1745 property tax defaulters awaited, reveals RTI

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) property tax department has revealed concerning figures, reporting a total of 1,746 defaulters who owe a staggering Rs 5,182 crore in property tax dues.

Of these cases, 94 are pending in court, accounting for Rs. 988 crore, with two cases alone responsible for Rs 565 crore in delays. This backlog of unpaid taxes is hindering PMC’s financial inflow and stalling the development of Pune City.

PMC has set an ambitious target of collecting Rs. 2400 crore in property tax, of which Rs. 2000 crore has been successfully retrieved from defaulters. However, activists argue that PMC should prioritize pursuing larger defaulters, given the substantial difference in the amounts owed.

Activist Vivek Velankar emphasized, “Concentrating on major defaulters, approximately 1,500 owing Rs. 1 crore each, totaling Rs. 5,500 crores, could significantly enhance revenue generation for PMC compared to current collections of around Rs. 2,300 crores.”

Responding to these concerns, Kunal Khemnar, Additional Municipal Commissioner, stated, “We are shifting our focus to major defaulters and implementing innovative measures such as public demonstrations outside their residences to urge payment.”

With PMC’s intensified efforts, including targeting significant defaulters, the corporation aims to recuperate outstanding dues, facilitating further progress in city development projects.