The Times of India 22.02.2013
PCMC spent over Rs 90L in 10 months to demolish buildings
PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad
Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has spent in excess of Rs 90 lakh in the
last 10 months to demolish some 179 buildings.
As per the assessment done till March 31, 2012, there are 3.34 lakh properties in Pimpri Chinchwad, of which 1.34 lakh do not have required sanctions. The PCMC has been able to bring down only 179 buildings in the last 10 months.
The civic administration gave this information in written replies given to Shrirang Barne, group leader of Shiv Sena and some RPI corporators.
The municipal commissioner in July last year had issued a circular to the officials of the property tax department to conduct tax assessment of new constructions. He had stressed that assessment of only legal properties should be done.
Initiating discussion at the general body meeting, Barne said the civic administration has not given information about unauthorized constructions in floodline affected areas. He also alleged that there are around 15,000 properties in the city that have bogus 'gunthewari' certificates. There are more than 30,000 properties that are not registered in the tax assessment register of the civic body due to which the PCMC has lost tax of Rs 50 crore, he said.
Corporators cutting across party lines asked PCMC to find ways to regularize unauthorized structures. They blamed the civic body for not taking action at the time when the buildings were built.
Some corporators alleged that the civic body is providing free civic amenities to the slum-dwellers while demolishing unauthorized constructions of people who have bought the plots. Therefore, they demanded action to prevent construction of unauthorized huts as well.
Mayor Mohini Lande allowed discussion on the issue for a marathon three hours. But she stopped the discussion abruptly which enraged MNS corporators. Shahji Pawar, assistant commissioner and chief of property tax department, said: "Citizens who have documents to prove that their unauthorized constructions were built before March 31, 2012, must apply for tax assessment at the citizen facilitation centres (CFCs) at the PCMC main office building, or at the CFCs at the four zonal offices. If we find their claims are true, we will conduct tax assessment of such properties."
As per the assessment done till March 31, 2012, there are 3.34 lakh properties in Pimpri Chinchwad, of which 1.34 lakh do not have required sanctions. The PCMC has been able to bring down only 179 buildings in the last 10 months.
The civic administration gave this information in written replies given to Shrirang Barne, group leader of Shiv Sena and some RPI corporators.
The municipal commissioner in July last year had issued a circular to the officials of the property tax department to conduct tax assessment of new constructions. He had stressed that assessment of only legal properties should be done.
Initiating discussion at the general body meeting, Barne said the civic administration has not given information about unauthorized constructions in floodline affected areas. He also alleged that there are around 15,000 properties in the city that have bogus 'gunthewari' certificates. There are more than 30,000 properties that are not registered in the tax assessment register of the civic body due to which the PCMC has lost tax of Rs 50 crore, he said.
Corporators cutting across party lines asked PCMC to find ways to regularize unauthorized structures. They blamed the civic body for not taking action at the time when the buildings were built.
Some corporators alleged that the civic body is providing free civic amenities to the slum-dwellers while demolishing unauthorized constructions of people who have bought the plots. Therefore, they demanded action to prevent construction of unauthorized huts as well.
Mayor Mohini Lande allowed discussion on the issue for a marathon three hours. But she stopped the discussion abruptly which enraged MNS corporators. Shahji Pawar, assistant commissioner and chief of property tax department, said: "Citizens who have documents to prove that their unauthorized constructions were built before March 31, 2012, must apply for tax assessment at the citizen facilitation centres (CFCs) at the PCMC main office building, or at the CFCs at the four zonal offices. If we find their claims are true, we will conduct tax assessment of such properties."
