KOLHAPUR: Civic officials sealed 24 flats of a building at Krantisinh Nana Patil Nagar for defaulting on property tax payments for the last several years.
The building, under the Gandhi Maidan divisional ward office’s jurisdiction, had flats whose owners owed between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 each in unpaid property tax despite repeated warnings. This marks the first time officials have sealed such a large number of flats.
The KMC (Kolhapur Municipal Corporation) has launched a vigorous campaign targeting property tax defaulters, highlighting how residents promptly pay electricity and mobile bills but neglect their property tax obligations.
Despite offering a 50% concession on penal interest to encourage timely payment, many defaulters still refuse to clear their dues.
KMC city engineer Netradeep Sarnobat stated, “There are a total of 25 flats in Sankalpsiddhi Apartment located in the Krantisinh Nana Patil Nagar area. These flats have been purchased as an investment by the flat holders, and the apartment is fully vacant. The property tax arrears of each flat holder are Rs 40,000 to 50,000. They were repeatedly issued notices to pay the dues. Notices were pasted on the door of every flat, yet the flat owners were not cooperating in paying the tax.”
He further said, “When KMC commenced the action to seal the properties, one of the flat holders immediately paid the dues, but the remaining 24 flat holders did not.”
The KMC has now warned all citizens who have not yet paid their dues to take immediate action and cooperate. “If the payments are not made promptly, further legal actions will be taken, including the sealing of properties, in accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act,” the KMC warned.
