Pune: PMC To Disconnect Water Supply For Property Tax Defaulters Starting 1st January

Pune, 1st January 2025: In a bid to recover outstanding property taxes, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced that it will disconnect water connections for property owners who have not cleared their arrears. Despite repeated notices, many property owners have failed to pay, prompting the PMC to take stringent action. Starting from 1st January, five teams have been formed across the city’s five zones, including the central zone, to implement this move.

The PMC’s property tax arrears have now surpassed ₹10,000 crore, with approximately 3.5 lakh defaulters. For the financial year 2024-25, the PMC set a target to collect ₹2,727 crore in taxes, but so far, it has only collected ₹1,900 crore. A special campaign to recover the dues, including sealing properties with a “Band Pathak” since 2nd December, has brought in ₹71.41 crore in tax payments. However, many defaulters continue to avoid payment, offering flimsy excuses for their non-compliance.

To further enforce the collection, the PMC has decided to cut off water connections for those still owing property taxes. According to Madhav Jagtap, Deputy Commissioner of the Tax Collection Department, water supply will be disconnected immediately for defaulters, and the connection will not be restored until the full arrears are paid.

The collection of property tax in the newly merged 34 villages of Pune has faced additional hurdles. Following objections from villagers, the government halted tax collection in these areas just before the recent Assembly Elections. This suspension has affected the PMC’s financial target by around ₹300 to ₹400 crore. Since the government has yet to make a decision on resuming collection, the PMC has taken matters into its own hands by sealing properties and cutting water supplies to ensure recovery of taxes.