The Times of India     24.11.2010

Double property tax for illegal constructions rejected

PUNE: The standing committee of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) rejected the civic administration's proposal to levy double the property tax for illegal constructions in the municipal limits.

Prashant Shitole, chairman, standing committee said, "The proposal was rejected to safeguard the interests of citizens." The property tax department had proposed to levy double the property tax from the next fiscal year for illegal constructions that have come up after January 4, 2008 in the municipal limits.

Shitole said that Shahaji Pawar, assistant commissioner and head of the property tax department told the meeting that the proposal was tabled as per the state government resolution. The standing committee rejected the proposal and instead asked the civic administration to make changes in development control (DC) rules to allow people to fully use the plots of the land they have bought.

The standing committee members demanded that the gunthewari scheme be used to regularise illegal constructions. Eknath Ugile, city engineer told the meeting that the PCMC has regularised around 12,000 properties under gunthewari scheme. Shitole said, "The standing committee has approved the proposal to give concessions to builders and flatowners to encourage green buildings in the municipal limits."

According to the proposal, the PCMC's environment cell, with help from environmental organisations like TERI and GRIHA, will scrutinise building proposal received and green building certificate will be given depending on the environment-friendly schemes proposed.

Star rating will be given as per points scored for providing rainwater harvesting, solar power, drainage and sewage management facilities along with other amenities. Concession in premium charges ranging from 10 to 50 per cent, will be given according to the rating.

The green building certificate will be valid for a period of five years and will be renewed every year thereafter. The flat holders in such buildings will get a 10 per cent concession in the general tax. Shitole said, "The standing committee also approved a proposal to construct a 1.4 km long and 45 m wide road from Chinchwadgaon-Kalewadi bridge to the beginning of the proposed Empire Estate flyover in Kalewadi as part of the Bus Rapid Transit System ( BRTS) route from Kalewadi phata Dehu-Alandi road at an expenditure of Rs 19.88 crore. Another proposal to hire contract labourers from organisations of the self-employed and unemployed people for one year for maintaining cleanliness in four zones at a cost of Rs 3.78 crore was also approved."

Resolutions for asphalting of roads in Dapodi at a cost of Rs 35 lakh and to widen and asphalt the Bhosari-Alandi road as per the Development Plan(DP) at a cost of Rs 14 lakh were also approved. Tuesday's standing committee meeting saw 115 proposals on the agenda alongwith 20 short-notice proposals which were discussed and approved in an hour. These proposals' estimated expenditure is of Rs 40 crore.