NAVI MUMBAI: The Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is set to initiate stringent action against property tax defaulters who have not paid the dues despite several discounts under amnesty schemes being offered for the more than once in the past.
According to municipal commissioner Ganesh Deshmukh, the civic body will go on a spree to seize the properties of the defaulters soon. It will follow public auction of the confiscated movable or immovable properties of tax defaulters to recover the outstanding dues.
Meanwhile, PCMC has undertaken the assessment of approximately 3.5 lakh properties in the municipal area. As on date, total Rs 248 crore has been collected as property tax this fiscal year. In accordance with the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, section 128 and schedule D rule 47, the municipality has the authority to sell properties seized for non-payment of property tax or attach them to recover the pending dues and PCMC will follow the set norms.
To facilitate property tax payment, the civic body has implemented various measures. Relief in penalties ranging from 100% to 25% has been provided for those who pay their property taxes regularly. For property owners facing natural justice issues and wishing to appeal against property tax assessment under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, a provision has been made by the civic body.
In case of non-payment of property tax, a monthly 2% increase in penalties has been applied, and information has been disseminated through loudspeakers in four zones via auto rickshaws to create awareness among citizens. PCMC has also developed PCMC pay tax app for online property tax payment, and citizens can also use panvelmc(dot)org to pay their property taxes.
