PCMC to earn an additional income of Rs 150 crore through tax on unauthorized properties

Pune, February 9, 2021: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is expected to earn an additional income of Rs 150 crore through property tax on new unauthorized and illegal properties.

The PCMC began a survey of properties in the city three months ago. During the survey, it became clear that around 50,000 unauthorized structures and properties will be discovered across the city.

Currently, the number of properties in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area is 5.40 lakh. The civic authorities had decided to search for illegal and unauthorized properties in the city. It appointed a private agency to survey the new constructions, incremental constructions, modified properties, etc. The agency began surveying the city in November 2020.

In the first phase, around 30,000 properties unauthorized properties were discovered in half of the city.
The survey is likely to discover 20,000 more unauthorized properties in the city, according to the PCMC Property Tax Department.

The illegal structures and properties found in the city till now include 600 cellular towers. The civic authorities are now checking relevant documents and gathering detailed information regarding taxation on them via mobile applications.

Only about 500 cellular towers have been registered with the PCMC. This has raised the question of how around 600 cellular towers are operating without paying the levy across the city.

The property survey was expected to be completed within 90 days. However, it was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the PCMC Standing Committee has decided to extend the contract for another three months.

The city has seen a large number of constructions during the lockdown period. However, the property owners have not registered them with the Municipal Tax Collection Department. These include new constructions, alterations to old, constructions, etc. It has also been observed that the number of sheds is the highest. The concerned owners have not even sought the permission of the building permit department to carry out such constructions.

To find such income, the corporation had appointed Orion Solutions for ninety days, i.e. three months. They will be compensated on the basis of sharing revenue generated from the detection of illegal constructions.