Pune: Citizens’ Forum Opposes PMC’s Proposed Property Tax Amnesty Scheme, Cites Crores in Losses
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 4th November 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is reportedly considering introducing another round of its property tax amnesty scheme for defaulters. However, the Sajag Nagrik Manch has strongly opposed the proposal, urging the civic administration to immediately withdraw the plan, citing heavy financial losses and repeated misuse of the scheme in the past.
In a letter addressed to the Municipal Commissioner, Sajag Nagrik Manch President Vivek Velankar said that PMC had implemented similar amnesty schemes in 2020–21 and 2021–22, which caused major revenue losses. “During 2020–21, as many as 1,49,683 defaulters availed of the scheme, but the waiver of penalties and interest resulted in a loss of around ₹210 crore to the civic body. The following year, 66,454 property owners participated, leading to another loss of ₹64 crore,” Velankar said.
He added that, according to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, a large number of those who benefited from the previous amnesty schemes have once again defaulted on property tax payments.
“Such schemes are unfair to citizens who pay their taxes on time. They reward habitual defaulters and encourage non-compliance. Hence, PMC should not even consider launching a new amnesty scheme,” Velankar stated.
If the corporation insists on introducing a new scheme, Velankar suggested that those who benefited from earlier amnesty programs but have since defaulted again should be excluded.
He also proposed that defaulters participating in the new scheme must submit an undertaking pledging timely payments in the future. “If they default again, the penalties and interest waived earlier should be recovered,” he said.
Data obtained through RTI further revealed that 63,518 (42%) of the beneficiaries from the 2020–21 scheme had defaulted again by December 2024, while 44,685 (67%) of those who availed of the 2021–22 scheme had also become defaulters once more.
Velankar emphasized that instead of giving repeated relaxations, PMC should focus on strict recovery measures to ensure financial discipline and fairness to honest taxpayers.
