According to Standing Committee Chairman Avinash Thakre, had the Property Tax Department done tax assessment of the 49915 open plots since 1988 till 2013 with rate chart, the NMC coffers would have been to the brim and the present “bankrupt” situation could have been averted.
Nagpur News:
The cash-strapped Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had been richer by Rs 194,32,268,33.78 but for capability and alertness on the part of NMC machinery. A total of NIT regularized 49915 open plots of lands come under NMC jurisdiction. The plots were regularized after 2002 by the NIT, the said information was provided by NMC Standing Committee Chairman Avinash Thakre.
According to Thakre, had the Property Tax Department done tax assessment of the 49915 open plots since 1988 till 2013 with rate chart, the NMC coffers would have been to the brim and the present “bankrupt” situation could have been averted. The Standing Committee has aimed a target of Rs 380 crore of revenue from Property Tax. The target includes regular recovery Rs 300 crore, another Rs 30 crore from non-assessed and no data entry, and Rs 50 crore from Government properties. Moreover, if the amount of Property Tax is levied on the said open plots a total of Rs 194,32,268,33.78 could be added to the NMC exchequer then the current fiscal year revenue from Property Tax would touch a massive Rs 570 crore.
The Standing Committee Chairman lamented that the NMC authorities could be blamed for the present poor financial situation and the “circus” for maintaining the better financial position could have been totally unwarranted. “The Ruling Party has shown the path of revenue source and for recovery of the shown source would be present to NMC Commissioner in the form of a booklet. The booklet would contain names of the open plot owners, areas and the addresses. Thereafter, it will be responsibility of the NMC Administration to issue Demand Notes and recover the Property Tax. We hope, with pending recovery, achieving the target would be completed this year only so that the additional revenue of Rs 20-25 crore from the open plots would continue to fill coffers of the NMC. And if the NMC Administration backs down or shows inaction then the Administration will have no authority to stall the development works,” Thakre warned.
