The civic body has a reason to exult, as it has achieved the target it set for revenue from property tax by recovering Rs 225 crore in the past two months. Besides, the flying squad identified more than 100 defaulters, but conducting surprise visits
The properties that feature in the defaulters list include offices, flats, shops and residential buildings. “We have sent notices to all these properties. To penalise owners of illegal properties, we’ll charge them three times the actual tax. We would identify 1,000 more defaulter properties in a month’s time, which will help us generate revenue,” said Hemant Nikam, head of the PMC’s tax collection dept.u00a0
“We had set a target to collect Rs 300 crore, which we intend to collect by the end of this month. We have already collected Rs 225 crore, and are hopeful to add Rs 82 crore in the remaining few,” he added. For the financial year 2012, till February this year, the PMC has recovered property tax to a tune of Rs 560 crore.
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The PMC had adopted a unique method of playing live bands in front of the houses of defaulters to embarrass them, and force them to pay the taxes. “We are planning to sign a one-year contract with the live band groups, and have even floated tenders for the same. The process of appointing band groups will be completed in a month,” said Nikam. u00a0