The municipal administration in Pune will reissue nearly two lakh property tax bills without a 40% discount as occupants failed to submit mandatory self-occupancy certificates. Ajit Deshmukh, head of the property tax department, stated the need for occupants to complete necessary procedures within the extended deadline. The process to finalize new bill amounts for properties deemed 'not self-occupied' is underway, with PMC expecting around Rs 50 crore in revenue. Some citizens advocate for a streamlined process to verify self-occupied properties. A citizen highlighted the reluctance of individuals due to stringent conditions, leaving over two lakh property owners outside the scheme benefits.
The Pune municipal administration stands to reissue nearly two lakh property tax bills without the 40% discount, as occupants failed to furnish the self-occupancy certificates (PT3 forms). These certificates are mandatory as a prerequisite for availing the benefit. Ajit Deshmukh, head of PMC's property tax department, emphasizes the imperative of PT3 forms in determining self-occupied status, urging property owners to capitalize on the scheme's advantages by completing necessary procedures within the specified deadline.
The property tax department is currently finalizing new bill amounts for properties categorized as 'not self-occupied.' Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) anticipates completing this process by December-end, indicating a projected revenue influx of approximately Rs 50 crore. PMC permitted owners of self-occupied properties to submit PT3 forms by November 15 initially, later extending the deadline to November 30. But at the deadline's conclusion, only 96,000 forms were submitted.
Property owners who had large arrears were subject to additional tax on their bills this year. The PT3 form was also extended to property owners whose properties were registered with the property tax department post-2019. The civic administration employed GIS mapping and SMS alerts to reach out to select property owners.
Some citizens advocate for a streamlined process to verify self-occupied properties. Manoj Dube from Baner highlights the reluctance of individuals willing to embrace the scheme due to stringent conditions for settling dues, particularly when dues amount to lakhs. According to Dube, over two lakh property owners in the city are left out of the scheme's benefits.
In essence, Pune's property tax scenario underscores the challenges inherent in scheme implementation and emphasizes the imperative of streamlined processes to facilitate citizen participation, particularly during festive periods. The extension plea and ongoing processes show the administration's commitment to equitable solutions while ensuring revenue inflows for civic development.
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