The Times of India 27.02.2013
Government offices evading property tax for years
MUMBAI: The BMC
wants citizens to pay property tax by March 31, but it has not been
able to collect the pending amount from central and state government
agencies for the past several years.
According to the data
compiled by BMC, property tax worth Rs 155 crore on central and state
government offices in the city is yet to be paid. Of the Rs 155 crore,
central government agencies owe nearly Rs 147 crore, including Rs 5.23
crore, Rs 4.42 crore and Rs 31.43 crore of CR, WR and Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) respectively. Offices of the state government owe the BMC much lesser— 8.24 crore.
Civic officials said the BMC is pursuing the issue with senior
officials from these departments and are hopeful that the money will be
paid soon.
A civic official, requesting anonymity, said, “Some
bills have not been paid for over 15 years. Even water bills are pending
for several years together. We have sent several reminders, but they
haven’t bothered to revert.”
The BMC has decided to charge
citizens property tax rates on the basis of capital value. The rates
will be applicable with retrospective effect from April 1, 2010. The
property tax bills and special notices have been sent to the citizens,
asking them to pay up before March 31. Despite several petitions from
corporators and citizens, the BMC has refused to extend the deadline for
payment.
