After meme competition, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation plans to use reels to nudge property owners to pay taxes

PCMC officials said the civic body is offering various concessions on property tax payments till June 30.

The administration had in March organised a meme contest for property tax defaulters.(FILE)

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After holding a meme competition on property tax arrears, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to organise a reels competition to persuade citizens to pay their taxes by the June 30 deadline.

“We are organising a reels competition through social media for citizens. Those who upload innovative reels to attract the attention of citizens to pay their property tax by June 30 will get awarded,” Assistant Municipal Commissioner Nilesh Deshmukh, who holds the charge of the property tax department, told The Indian Express.

The winner will get a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a certificate. Besides, the two runners-up will get Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 cash prizes and certificates.

“The contest is aimed at appealing to the citizens to pay up their taxes on time. The new generation is using different modes like songs, music, and acting to draw the attention of the people. Likewise, we expect they will make reels on property tax levied by PCMC. Reels should be imaginative and new,” Deshmukh said.

Officials said participants must post their reels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They should use the hashtag #pcmcptaxreels #ptaxreels #pcmctaxconcession. Deshmukh said all participants will receive a certificate.

PCMC officials said the civic body is offering various concessions on property tax payments till June 30. “If advance tax is paid, a 5 per cent discount is given. If they are paying online tax, again a 5 per cent discount will be given. If a residential cooperative society has a composting facility, the society members will get a 5 per cent discount on property tax. If a society has a Sewage Treatment Plant, an additional three per cent will be given to the members. If both the composting facility and STP are operational, then each member will get an 8 per cent discount,” Deshmukh said.

“If a residential society has an STP facility and generates zero garbage… then it will get a 10 per cent discount,” he added. In short, Deshmukh said, they are offering a 20 per cent discount on property taxes.