The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) is gearing up to take decisive action against property tax defaulters who have neglected their obligations to the municipal authority. Following directives from Commissioner Ganesh Deshmukh, the Corporation has bolstered the staff of the property tax department's confiscation team.

Out of a total of 350,000 properties within the corporation's jurisdiction across four wards, only 77,000 property owners have fulfilled their property tax responsibilities, leaving a significant 280,000 yet to settle their dues. As of February 21, the Corporation has successfully recovered a substantial sum totalling 545 crores. Moreover, within the current financial year starting from April 17, 258 crores have been collected.

Despite previous appeals for payment, the Corporation has now escalated its efforts, resorting to stringent measures against defaulters. A list comprising 101 industrial, 107 non-residential, and 100 residential defaulters with significant outstanding property tax has been published in ten newspapers today. The process of issuing seizure notices to these defaulters is already underway, with warrants set to be issued against ward officers in the coming days.

The Municipal Corporation is empowered by the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act Section 128 and Schedule D Chapter 8 Taxation Rule 47 to seize or impound movable and immovable property, subsequently auctioning it off to recover arrears. Despite providing concessions, the Corporation has now commenced issuing seizure notices after exhausting other avenues for recovery. To facilitate this, the staff of the Property Tax Department's seizure team has been augmented.

Special stickers declaring the seizure of properties under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act due to delinquent property tax are being affixed, prohibiting their sale and purchase. Property tax constitutes a significant revenue source for municipal projects, and the penalty for non-payment has been increased by 2 percent per month.

The Corporation continues its outreach efforts, utilizing loudspeakers on rickshaws to urge citizens to settle their property tax dues. Additionally, the 'PMC TAX APP' mobile application and the website panvelmc.org offer convenient platforms for online payment. Property owners with queries are encouraged to reach out through the toll-free number 1800-5320-340.