Residents of 32 Merged Villages Warn of Protest Over Property Tax Hike
Residents of 32 Merged Villages Warn of Protest Over Property Tax Hike
Residents of 32 villages merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have threatened to protest against the state government and PMC over increased property tax. They claim the authorities have not kept their promise of providing tax relief.
Earlier, the chief minister and deputy chief minister had stayed the tax collection and assured that any increase would be phased. However, no official communication was issued, and the civic body has now begun distributing new tax bills for 2025-26.
The villagers oppose the property tax being applied at the same rate as other urban areas. They argue that the tax should not be double the amount they paid under the gram panchayat system before the merger.
A citizens’ forum from Haveli Taluka has announced a protest on April 8 to demand a rollback of the hike. Members say the state government promised relief, but no action has been taken.
Residents are frustrated that despite assurances, the municipal corporation has started issuing tax bills without any clarity on concessions. They fear the higher tax rates will add to their financial burden.
The protesters are demanding that the state government intervene immediately and issue an official order to the municipal corporation. If their demands are not met, they plan to intensify their agitation in the coming days.
