The Times of India       22.09.2010

PMC to propose appointment of arbitrator

 PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is likely to come up with a proposal to appoint an arbitrator for settling cases related to property and water tax disputes.

The move assumes significance as there are nearly 350 disputed cases related to taxes and the total amount which is to be recovered is nearly Rs 280 crore. The cases have been pending in courts for many years. The issue came up for discussion at the standing committee on Tuesday.

Civic officials told the committee members that around Rs 210 crore dues pertain to water taxes while dues worth Rs 70 crore pertain to property taxes.

Senior committee member and corporator Ujjwal Keskar suggested that the municipal corporation should appoint an arbitrator to resolve the tax disputes. He also suggested that the municipal corporation should first announce an amnesty scheme for citizens to pay their tax dues. He pointed out that a few years back, when the corporation had announced an amnesty scheme for new property holders, nearly 14,000 property owners had come forward to pay their taxes. According to Keskar, the civic administration has agreed to both the suggestions and is likely to come out with a proposal next week for appointing an arbitrator.

Meanwhile, the committee deferred the hoardings policy tabled by municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade. Civic officials told the meeting that there are a total 2,313 authorised advertisement hoardings in the city, but the number of unauthorised hoardings is over 5,000.

The committee also discussed the issue of taking action against jewellery shop owners who have not paid octroi on gold and silver since April this year. The administration stated that it had issued notices to the jewellers in this regard. The committee was informed that the new Rajiv Gandhi hospital in Yerawada will start functioning next month.

Meanwhile, committee chairman Arvind Shinde directed the PMPML to stop the CNG pump for autorickshaws at the Narveer Tanaji Wadi bus depot as the pump had been started without taking any prior permission from either the PMC or the PMPML board of directors.