After tough talk, IMC offers sops to property tax defaulters

The Indore Municipal Corporation seems to have developed a sort of policy paralysis in its bid to meet the set revenue target for the current fiscal.

First, it warned the property tax defaulters in the city of strict action in case they failed to pay their dues by December 31 last year.

After the deadline went by, the defaulters were supposed to pay 15 per cent surcharge on the due tax. The civic body then threatened to attach properties of these defaulters and even asked its officials to prepare a list and carry out zone-wise recovery and subsequent seizures in case residents failed to pay their dues.

Now, it has decided to go soft on the defaulters and give them a rebate on surcharge on due tax

IMC will hold a Lok Adalat on February 22 during which residents can avail 100 per cent rebate on surcharge on due taxes up to Rs 50,000, 50 per cent rebate on dues above Rs 50, 000 and up to Rs 1 lakh and 25 per cent rebate on the surcharge amount on the dues above Rs 1 lakh.

“The IMC will spread information about holding of this Lok Adalat and urge property owners to avail the benefit of rebate on surcharge amount. We are expecting to generate around Rs 20 crore of revenue through this Lok Adalat, “ said IMC deputy commissioner Abhay Ranjhangawkar.

IMC has a target to generate Rs 300 crore of revenue for the current fiscal year but it has been able to recover only Rs 175 crore till now.