Indian Express 25.11.2009
40 pc rebate on property tax: NCP-Cong oppose PMC move
The NCP-Congress alliance in the civic body on Tuesday opposed the administration’s proposal to roll back 38-year-old scheme of 40 per cent rebate on property tax for self-occupied properties while urging for action against the telephone companies having pending dues of Rs 140.95 crore.
“The civic administration should not roll back the scheme of rebate in property tax for self-occupied residential properties,” said Congress leader Ulhas Bagul.
The private telecom companies have in total dues of Rs 140.95 crore, he said adding, “The state government in 2006 had directed the civic bodies to recover the road digging charges from private telecom companies for laying their cables. Around 523 km of the road was dug in the city since then, but no charges have been recovered so far.”
Six private telecom companies had dug the roads for laying their cables and the total charges for dug roads is Rs 140.95 crore, said Bagul.
NCP leader Anil Bhosale too demanded the civic administration to initiate strict action against the private companies for recovery of the pending dues.
“The civic administration has been taking action against defaulters of property tax, but this private companies should also be made to pay their dues,” he said.
Civic body cracks whip on tax defaulters
Struggling to reach its estimated revenue collection for the financial year, PMC has intensified its drive against defaulters of property tax by sealing a private education institute, industrial unit.
“The Institute of Information Technology and Management in Kondhwa Budhruk had dues of Rs 7.30 lakh of property Tax. It has been sealed since the institute failed to pay the money despite reminder,” said Vilas Kanade, PMC Tax Collection and Assessment Officer.
Similarly, Shahid Industries in Vishal Mega Market too have been sealed by the civic authorities for failing to pay the pending dues of Rs two lakh.
He said the strict action has enabled six commercial firms in Wanoworie to pay the Rs 31.5 lakh of pending dues. Thus, the civic administration appeals all the defaulters to pay their dues on time failing to which the properties will be sealed, warned Kanade.
