Amit Bathla
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, July 3
Several government establishments, including the Mini-Secretariat wherein the Deputy Commissioner and other senior administrative official sit, are among the top property tax defaulters who owe crores of rupees to the Panchkula Municipal Corporation.
“In the above Rs1-lakh category, as many as 999 individuals owe Rs37 crore to the corporation. A sum of around Rs17.5 crore is to be recovered from 14 establishments with each having due over Rs5 lakh. Top defaulters include hotels, banks, government institutions, schools and petrol pumps,” Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal said.
According to MC officials, the list of defaulters has only grown in recent years, leaving the civic body in poor financial health.
Shalimar Mall biggest defaulter, owes in crores
Lying closed for the past several years, Shalimar Mall in Sector 5 here is said to be the biggest defaulter, but the civic body has ordered a revaluation of its dues. “The dues of the mall run in crores,” said Goyal.
The MC General House in its third meeting held recently had announced the formation of a committee for the revaluation of property tax owed by the mall.
As per the list, Suraj Theatre has Rs1.12 crore dues, Haryana Tourism Department’s Red Bishop Hotel Rs75.32 lakh, Gymkhana Club, Sector 3, Rs62.40 lakh, Haryana Government Press Rs32.22 lakh, a government office near the court complex (unspecified) Rs24.88 lakh and the Mini-Secretariat Rs17.71 lakh.
“If the owners fail to clear the dues, their properties will be sealed,” Goyal warned, adding that notices had already been issued to the defaulters. According to him, the civic body expects property tax collection of Rs25 crore to Rs30 crore every year, but it only receives between Rs7 crore to Rs10 crore.
“Last year, Rs11.50 crore was deposited into civic body accounts as property tax. This year, we have set a target of Rs25 crore,” he said.
Defaulters’ list