PMC GB rejects 12% hike in property tax

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) General Body has rejected the administration’s proposal of 12 per cent hike in property tax for the financial year 2020-21. In Tuesday meeting, all party members unanimously decided to reject property hike and instructed the administration to take steps to collect property tax which is due.

Last month, PMC Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad drafted Rs 6,229 crore of annual budget 2020-21 in which he proposed a 12 per cent hike in property tax. In the special General Body meeting, all elected members across the party criticised the administration for not doing work properly. 

Leader of House Deeraj Ghate said, “We have formed a revenue committee to find out new revenue generation sources and increase revenue other than traditional ways of revenue generation.”

Opposition Leader Deepali Dhumal of NCP said, “The civic administration is showing double standards while imposing the tax and also carrying out the recovery drive. The administration should have to focus on the recovery of tax from the IT companies, Mobile towers and newly-constructed buildings.”

Congress leader Arvind Shinde said, “PMC is charging 15 per cent water tax for implementing 24x7 regular and equitable water supply scheme. However, most parts of the city are not receiving adequate water. In the Rs 2,500-crore project, the corporation has spent around Rs 130 crore so far. The corporation should have to rethink the water tax.” Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Dr Siddharth Dhende said, “The bigger tax defaulters should be targeted on priority.”