Pune: 16,938 Unauthorized Constructions In Newly Merged Villages; People Rush To Gram Panchayat To Register Construction With Old Date
construction worker silhouette on the work place
Pune, 9th July 2021: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) records show that there are 16,938 unauthorized constructions in newly merged villages. Now, to avoid the penalty, villagers are rushing to the gram panchayat offices to register the construction with an old date. A chain of brokers also activated for the registration.
Before the inclusion of 23 villages in the municipal area, all these villages were within the limits of PMRDA. According to PMRDA records, there are 16,938 unauthorized constructions in these villages. The PMRDA had also issued notices to the builders in the village from time to time. Previously, they did not register the construction to save the gram panchayat’s construction tax. After the merger, If the record of construction is not found the triple penalty will be levied. To avoid the penalty, currently, villagers are rushing to the gram panchayat to register those constructions with an old date.
It is currently generating a turnover of lakhs of rupees. A chain of private brokers has been working for it and thousands of rupees are being paid to the private brokers. Many constructions have been taking place in Wagholi, Kirkatwadi, Narhe, Khadakwasla for the last few years. Being close to the city limits, many housing projects stood here. The PMC estimates that the 23 villages covered will have at least two and a half lakh properties. The method of levying tax on unauthorized constructions is not clear.
Unauthorized constructions in eleven villages that came under the municipal limits three years ago have not been taxed. Therefore, it is challenging for the municipal corporation to penalties the unauthorized constructions in the villages. The PMC has taken a stand that even if the gram panchayats have a record of the constructions, they will be inspected and after, that the tax will be fixed.
Infrastructure challenges: A minimum of Rs 10,000 crore is required for the development of 23 villages. The corporation is not in a financial position to provide such a large amount of funds. More funds will be required for development than the municipal budget. In addition, coronavirus infection is one of the major factors that are responsible for the strengthening of healthcare facilities. In this situation, the question remains as to how crores of rupees will be spent on infrastructure such as developing a network of sewers in villages, implementation of equal water supply scheme, construction of sewage projects, development of roads, sidewalks, waste treatment projects, education, strengthening of healthcare services etc.
Speaking about this, Saurabh Ranawade a resident of Khadakwasla said,” Despite being close to the city, Kirkitwadi did not have adequate facilities earlier. Due to its proximity to the border, new constructions are constantly taking place in the area. As construction is leading to urbanization, the responsibility of providing basic facilities has now fallen on the Municipal Corporation.”
Umesh Sanas a resident in Wagholi said,” Villages lack infrastructure. There is no network of sewers. There are doubts as to how the property will be taxed as it is within the municipal limits. Ordinary citizens are facing the question of how to pay a large fine if the corporation imposes it.”
The tax will be levied on the villages from next year and the administration will start the process of assessing the income in the next few days. The assessment will be carried out after the properties are seized from the Gram Panchayat. We will then get the accurate information of the construction, said Vilas Kanade, Head of Department, Taxation and Tax Collection Department.
