Continuing its drive against defaulters of property tax, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Thursday sealed the five-storeyed Arcadia.
Continuing its drive against defaulters of property tax, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Thursday sealed the five-storeyed Arcadia, a commercial complex at Hiranandani Estate, and sales office of Hiranandani Builders.
The TMC plans to seal seven other buildings on Friday. One is a commercial building, Tiffny, while six others are residential, namely, Silver Link, Victoria, Pendrif, Carton, Petra and Jasper, all located in the same area.
Officials said that the eight buildings owed the civic body Rs2.15 crore as property tax. The Arcadia Complex has about 100 outlets, all of which were sealed. Occupants, however, claim to have paid tax to the builder.
“This is forced suffering as we have already paid the tax in advance to the builder,” DB Chaudhary of Arcadia Chemist, a chemist shop on Arcadia Complex, said. “We hope the problem ends soon,” said Tulso Thakuran, a member of the complex and member of Rotary Club of Thane. “During recession, shutting down the shops would be tantamount to sealing our fate,” said another member.
“We weren’t aware of TMC’s plans as it had not intimated us about the non-payment of taxes. The builder has provided us no proof of tax paid to TMC,” said Chandan Sinha, a member of the Silver Link Society, a society the civic body plans to seal.
Ashok Burpulle, ward officer of Majiwada, said, “We have issued a notice to Roma Builders (Hiranandani developers).” Members of the societies said they were planning to meet the builder in this regard.
TMC, on its part, claims to have issued a notice two months ago. Ashok Burpulle, ward officer, Majiwade ward council, said, “We have been constantly asking the builder to pay up, but to no avail. So, we were forced to take action.”
However, residential societies can find a glimmer of hope in the fact that as per the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act, which the TMC follows, a civic body can’t seal residential buildings, but only seize properties like vehicles and household articles to claim unpaid tax.
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