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.”
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.”