The Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) in Haryana currently leads all municipal corporations in the state with outstanding stamp duty totalling Rs 245.2 crore. Sonipat Municipal Corporation follows closely behind with Rs 78.4 crore pending, while the Panchkula Civic Body has Rs 50.3 crore outstanding. The municipalities of Manesar and Faridabad also face the task of reclaiming Rs 43.8 crore and Rs 31.2 crore, respectively. These unpaid dues for fiscal years 2021–22 and 2022–23 highlight the substantial stamp duty arrear of Rs 644.1 crore across the state. The Department of Urban Local Bodies has directed municipalities to expedite recovery efforts and conduct fresh evaluations to address the issue promptly. Stamp duty serves as a vital income source for municipalities, enabling them to undertake development projects.
Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) currently holds the top spot in terms of outstanding stamp duty among all municipal corporations in the state, with an impressive sum of Rs 245.2 crore yet to be recovered. Following closely behind is the Sonipat Municipal Corporation, which is still grappling with a substantial sum of Rs 78.4 crore, while the Panchkula Civic Body trails with Rs 50.3 crore pending.
In Manesar and Faridabad, the corporations have a task at hand to reclaim Rs 43.8 crore and Rs 31.2 crore, respectively. These unpaid dues pertain to the fiscal years 2021–22 and 2022–23. In total, the municipalities across the state have a substantial stamp duty arrear of Rs 644.1 crore, with MCG, MCM, and MCF together accounting for a significant chunk of Rs 323.9 crore.
To address this pressing matter, the Department of Urban Local Bodies has issued a directive to municipalities, urging them to expedite the recovery of outstanding dues from the revenue department. Additionally, municipalities are required to conduct a fresh evaluation of stamp duty and submit a comprehensive report. The department emphasizes the detrimental impact of delayed disbursal on the functioning of civic bodies, considering that stamp duty serves as a major source of income for municipalities. The revenue obtained from stamp duty is essential for undertaking development projects by municipal corporations.
In a letter addressed to all deputy commissioners and municipalities in the state, the ULB commissioner and secretary, Vikas Gupta, stated that stamp duty is a vital source of regular income for any municipality. Therefore, it is imperative that all stakeholders collaborate and make concerted efforts to reclaim the amounts owed to municipalities from various departments, such as revenue and disaster management. Prompt action must be taken, including personal follow-ups with deputy commissioners, to ensure the timely release of the pending arrears. This will fortify the financial position of municipalities, enabling them to execute ongoing development projects without delay.
Furthermore, the letter revealed that the ULB department has already approached the state revenue department, urging the immediate release of stamp duty shares amounting to Rs 663.1 crore, which has been pending from 2012 to 2021.
For MCG, the Municipal Corporation with the highest dues, stamp duty collections yield a significant monthly revenue of approximately Rs 20 to Rs 25 crore. In the previous fiscal year, MCG officials reported an impressive total of Rs 320 crore solely from stamp duty earnings. A senior MCG official explained that stamp duty calculations by the revenue department are based on the number of property registrations in the city. The ULB department has requested that we submit an assessment of stamp duty dues to ensure the accuracy of the revenue department's calculations. It is highly likely that our pending stamp duty amount will exceed Rs 245 crore.
Under the provisions of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act and the Haryana Municipal Act, a 2 percent duty is levied on the transfer of immovable properties within municipal limits. Municipalities and the ULB department each receive a 1 percent share of the stamp duty. However, in the cases of MCG, MCM, and MCF, 1 percent of the duty is allocated to the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority and Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority, respectively.
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
