MEERUT: The Meerut Municipal Corporation (MMC) sealed 56 shops over unpaid house taxes in different parts of the city by Thursday, said an official.
Chief tax assessment officer SK Gautam said that in Kotla Bazaar and Swamipada, Rs 9.20 crore was outstanding, leading to the seizure of 20 shops, with Rs 1.63 lakh recovered. In Shastri Nagar Zone, Rs 29.87 lakh was outstanding, 19 shops were sealed, and Rs 8.29 lakh was collected. Similarly, in Kanker Khera, Rs 48.86 lakh was pending, 17 shops were sealed, and Rs 22.87 lakh was recovered.
Municipal commissioner Saurabh Gangwar told TOI, “We have kept a target of Rs 1 crore per day as tax recovery. We’re aiming to collect 100 crores this financial year and achieved a remarkable feat by collecting 60 crores.”
He added, “There are a few long-standing defaulters, including a govt-run university, with Rs 19 crore in unpaid house tax. We sealed the university’s bank accounts, and while the institution initially reported Rs 11 crore in these accounts, only Rs 17 lakh was found.”
The matter is currently in court, with ongoing communication between the municipal authorities and the university administration. “We are in touch with the varsity officials, and if they don’t pay the taxes despite the court asking them to, we will file a contempt,” he added.
