The Indian Express                  15.03.2013

PMC goes musical to recover pending property tax

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday launched a novel initiative to recover the pending property tax to the tune of over Rs 5 lakh. It took the help of a brass band to drive home the point.

"The PMC has been appealing to the property owners to pay their taxes but despite serving notices there is no response till date. Thus, it was decided to hire a brass band that would accompany the civic staff to the site location which have pending property tax dues. The band will play music in front of the property for not paying tax on time," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Jagtap.

He said the decision was taken based on his previous experience during his tenure in Cantonment Board in Ahmednagar. "We could manage to recover the dues during the initiative so the same is being brought under trial in PMC," Jagtap said.

The PMC started the initiative in Dhankawadi, Baner, Shivajinagar, Yerawada and Market Yard, he said, adding that at present the civic body will apply the method for properties that has dues over Rs 5 lakh.

Jagtap said the civic administration received good response on the first day and recovered of Rs 23 lakh, from hotels and malls. "The brass band initiative will go on for a month so as to recover as much of pending dues," he said.

The PMC has a target of Rs 670 crore from property tax by March end and has been able to collect Rs 600 so far.