Pune Municipal Corporation starts cracking the whip on illegal properties

Pune, October 25, 2016: The property tax department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), irked by the poor response to its amnesty scheme, has initiated strict action against illegal constructions in the city. So far, three properties at Nagar road have been sealed for flouting the norms.

The municipal corporation had received a lukewarm response to its amnesty scheme that allows people to voluntarily declare their own unauthorised constructions, and get them regularised. The civic body offered an exemption on the penalty to be paid by those who own illegal properties if they declare it themselves. The scheme ran from August 1 to September 30, and has since been extended by three months.

“We urge people to take advantage of this scheme and disclose details of their unauthorised properties. Those who will not come forward, will have to face action,” said a PMC official.

PMC has also issued notices to around 200 unauthorised constructions. According to PMC officials in the know, action was taken in the Ahmednagar road areas following a survey. Commercial as well as residential properties will be pulled up, as they either do not have the required permissions, or additional, illegal construction was carried out on them.

“The notices have directed the property owners to pay three times the regular tax. This amount will be charged as fine for failing to pay the tax on time,” said the civic body in a statement.

According to property tax department’s estimates, around 10% of the 8 lakh properties in the city have violated the norms, by either carrying out additional work, or changing their purpose – residential buildings converted to commercial.

“People should come forward on their own about their illegal constructions. It will be beneficial for them as well as the civic administration,” said Suhas Mapari, head of PMC’s property tax department.

Property tax is one of the key sources of revenue for the civic body which, on an average, collects property tax of around Rs 700 crore annually. –Times of India‎