Nagpur: The Second Capital of Maharashtra is grappling with the problem of thousands of open plots that have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, contributing to the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. To compound the issue, many of these plot owners are significant defaulters of property tax owed to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
According to data from NMC’s Property Tax Department, around 1,00,385 property owners have defaulted on their property taxes for several years, with outstanding arrears amounting to a staggering Rs 214.48 crore.
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Thursday 09 Jan. 2025
The NMC’s Solid Waste Management Department has already taken action against open plot owners whose plots are found to be in unhygienic conditions. Between August 10 and 13, the civic body filed 17 FIRs against plot owners at various police stations. Nagpur police have booked them under Sections 270, 271, and 272 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deal with acts likely to spread infections dangerous to life.
The data reveals that the highest number of defaulters is from the Ashi Nagar Zone, where over 31,000 owners have failed to pay property taxes amounting to Rs 64.50 crore. Additionally, information from the Solid Waste Management Department highlights that around 150 open plots have become black spots where citizens regularly dump garbage, creating severe health hazards.
The Lakadganj Zone has around 16,034 property owners who have defaulted on property taxes totalling Rs 32.27 crore. In the Hanuman Nagar Zone, 10,692 open plot owners have defaulted on Rs 20.18 crore of property taxes. Interestingly, the old city areas under Gandhibagh and Dhantoli zones have the lowest number of open plot owners– 242 and 166, respectively — with outstanding property taxes of Rs 37 lakh and Rs 1.37 crore.
The Rs 214 crore in outstanding property taxes represents a significant sum. If recovered, the NMC could use these funds to enhance civic amenities in Nagpur. Media reports suggest that critical projects, such as flood mitigation plans, could be initiated using the NMC’s own revenue if this outstanding amount is collected. Currently, the NMC relies on State Government grants for several vital projects, including the reconstruction of retaining walls along the Nag, Pili, and Pora rivers.
NMC sources emphasize that the issue of open plots contributing to disease spread and the significant property tax defaults requires immediate and sustained attention.
