The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a strict measure to recover outstanding taxes from defaulters. The civic body has initiated a drive to disconnect the basic services, like water connection, of property tax defaulters.
Although the PMC has the target of collecting ₹2,727 crore for the financial year (FY) 2024-25, until the end of December 2024, it could collect only ₹1,870 crore. While there is nearly a gap of ₹800 crore due to the suspension of property tax collection from the 34 villages that were merged with the civic body due to the recent assembly elections, it is expected to cost the PMC ₹400 to ₹500 crore.
To offset this revenue deficit, the PMC has focused on recovering due property taxes within the city.
Since Dec 2, 2024, the Taxation and Tax Collection Department has deployed five dedicated teams to carry out daily recovery operations targeting resident and non-resident tax defaulters. These efforts have resulted in the recovery of ₹71.41 crore in arrears.
However, despite the ongoing recovery drive, many residents did not come forward to clear their dues. PMC has formed additional teams, comprising plumbers, maintenance workers and divisional inspectors to disconnect basic facilities like water supply for those who fail to pay their taxes. Each zone will have five such teams tasked with this action. Services will only be restored once the full amount of arrears is paid.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Deputy Commissioner (Taxation and Tax Collection) Madhav Jagtap, said, "We have appealed to all defaulters to settle their pending dues promptly to avoid disruption of services like water supply. We will also be seizing the properties."
