In a concerted effort to bolster municipal revenue, the Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has deployed 10 specialized squads tasked with issuing pre-seizure notices to property owners who have defaulted on property tax payments, despite prior appeals and reminders.
These dedicated teams are specifically targeting major defaulters who have disregarded previous warnings from the civic authorities. Ganesh Deshmukh, the PCMC commissioner and administrator, has directed the teams to take decisive action against defaulters to facilitate the recovery of overdue taxes and enable essential development activities.
Additional staff members have been appointed to issue pre-seizure notices to significant defaulters. The civic body has already issued notices to a total of 750 defaulters, including 100 industrial properties, 301 residential properties, and 349 commercial properties across nodes such as Kharghar, Kalamboli, Kamothe, and Panvel. Notably, PCMC successfully collected over Rs 200 crores in property taxes during the initial two quarters of the fiscal year, concluding on September 30.
Civic sources highlight that property tax constitutes a crucial revenue stream earmarked for developmental projects, including infrastructure and public amenities. In the event that defaulters fail to settle outstanding property tax obligations after receiving notices, their immovable properties may undergo auction following the completion of the seizure procedure.
Property holders have been promptly notified of the impending actions through mobile messages, urging them to clear dues and prevent further legal measures. The civic body emphasizes that the property tax collection has been promising, boasting a record collection of Rs 210 crores by the end of October.