percent discount, reinstated this year after being revoked in 2019, requires residents to prove eligibility by November 15. Keskar is requesting an extension until December 20 due to the festival season. The discount was introduced in 1970 to assist residents in maintaining properties damaged during the 1961 Mutha River flood. Activists and residents support the extension, relieving the burden during the festive season. The PMC originally withdrew the discount after objections from the state audit department.
Ujjwal Keskar, a former BJP corporator, is urging an extension of the deadline for proving eligibility to claim a 40 percent tax discount on self-occupied properties in Pune. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) revoked the original discount, dating back to 1970, in 2019 due to objections from the state audit department. However, the state government later reinstated it, restoring the 40 percent concession in annual taxable value and increasing the annual rent concession from 10 percent to 15 percent.
While the PMC intended to send revised property tax bills to eligible beneficiaries for 2023–24, many of them received bills that did not reflect the promised concession. In response, the PMC requested that residents provide documents proving their eligibility. This, in turn, sparked protests from residents, who argued that it was the PMC's responsibility to verify eligibility and that the burden was unfairly placed on them. Keskar, citing the festival season and the challenges it presents, has proposed extending the deadline from November 15 to December 20.
The introduction of the 40 percent property tax discount aimed to assist residents in repairing and maintaining their properties after the flooding of the Mutha River in 1961. This catastrophe resulted in the loss of approximately 1,000 lives and left 65,000 people homeless.
The resolution, aimed at alleviating the financial burden on affected property owners, was in place for nearly five decades. However, the state government's decision to revoke the resolution in 2019 led to unrest among the residents. The state audit department cited a lack of legislative amendments related to the resolution as the reason for its objections. As a result, the PMC issued property tax bills without the promised concession, burdening property owners with additional costs.
Keskar's plea for an extension of the deadline to December 20 stems from the recognition that many individuals may struggle to meet the initial deadline due to the festivities during this time. The PMC's insistence on verifying eligibility through document submission has faced backlash, with residents arguing that the onus should fall on the PMC to validate beneficiaries. In light of these circumstances, Keskar's call for an extended deadline is not just a request for more time but a reflection of the changing dynamics of the city, its residents, and their unique challenges.
It underscores the interplay between historical legacies and contemporary needs as citizens grapple with their tax obligations during the festival season. As the discussions unfold, residents, activists, and local authorities await the decision regarding the extension, recognizing the importance of a fair and accommodating approach during these challenging times.
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