PATNA: A team from Patna Municipal Corporation, along with a magistrate and local police, on Monday visited seven properties situated along Exhibition Road and Jamal Road within the New Capital circle to confiscate and sell them, as the owners had not paid their property tax for a long time.
According to civic body officials, five property owners settled their dues, while two requested a 48-hour extension for payment. The authorities have scheduled two rounds for seizure operations, with enforcement measures planned against non-compliant property owners.
The PMC on Monday launched their 13-day-long drive against property tax defaulters.
Municipal commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said despite persistent efforts and appeals by the civic body regarding property tax payments, several non-govt property holders remained unresponsive to multiple notices issued to them last year. “In response, the corporation initiated stringent measures by deploying property tax collection and seizure teams across various wards. The presence of these teams prompted immediate payments from long-standing defaulters,” he said.
“The PMC has identified 491 defaulters across different wards, with collection drives scheduled from January 13 to 25. On the first day, the team approached major defaulters in the New Capital circle area, where the presence of the magistrate and municipal officials led to prompt settlements. Several property owners made partial payments while requesting additional time for complete settlement,” Parashar said.
He told this reporter that with the strict action, the average tax collection increased to Rs 22 lakh per day. “We are hoping that it will go up to Rs 40 lakh per day within a fortnight. In this financial year 2024-25, we expect to collect Rs 200 crore. So far, the collection is about Rs 125 crore,” the commissioner said.
As per the data shared by the PMC, there are 73 tax defaulters in the New Capital circle. From Tuesday, the team will start its drive in the Patliputra circle, where there are 86 defaulters. Further actions will follow in Bankipore (Jan 15-22), Kankarbagh (Jan 16-23), Amizabad (Jan 17-24), and Patna City (Jan 18-25).
There are 99 tax defaulters in Azimabad, Bankipore (90), Kankarbagh (89), and Patna City (49).
Source Homevior.in
