The property tax department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has started imposing a two per cent penalty on homeowners who have not paid their property tax for the current financial year. The department has also begun issuing warrants against defaulters, a move that has led to concern among several citizens.
Former corporator Vedprakash Arya has strongly objected to the action, claiming that it began immediately after the Assembly elections concluded. He alleged arbitrary functioning by the municipal administration and said that citizens are being unnecessarily harassed.
Arya pointed out that earlier the municipal corporation used to collect property tax for the full financial year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. However, he said that once December ended this year, the civic body began issuing warrants to homeowners who had not yet cleared their taxes.
According to the existing system, property owners are expected to pay the tax for the financial year by March 31. However, a two per cent penalty is now being imposed after December, effectively giving citizens only nine months to clear their dues.
In the past, the state government had waived such penalties under an amnesty scheme. Arya also referred to earlier remarks by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had stated that high penalties often discourage people from paying municipal taxes as the penalty amount in some cases exceeds the total house tax dues.
Arya accused municipal officials of negligence and questioned whether tax collection had been deliberately halted earlier. He demanded immediate suspension of the officials concerned if such lapses were proven.
He also urged the mayor to intervene in the matter, review the functioning of the property tax department, and provide relief to citizens who are facing difficulties due to the current action.
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