Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Many properties in the city are yet to be brought under property tax. Some older properties have been demolished and replaced with multi-storey buildings. The municipal corporation administration had previously conducted a GIS-based survey of certain properties. The remaining 1.5 lakh properties are now scheduled to be surveyed, with work set to commence from the first week of May, said the assessor and collector of tax Vikas Navale.
The municipal corporation currently faces a debt of nearly Rs 1,500 crore. Without strengthening its own financial resources, the administration has limited options. The state government has also repeatedly instructed the corporation to take concrete steps. At present, only 40–42 per cent of property tax and 10–12 pc of water tax are being collected annually. To reduce this mounting debt and fund development projects, municipal commissioner Amol Yedge has emphasised strengthening revenue sources.
Property tax is considered a key revenue stream. Numerous properties in the city are not on the municipal corporation records, which means the corporation’s treasury does not benefit from them. Recently, an agency responsible for waste collection surveyed 5 lakh properties in the city, while the municipal corporation currently has records of 3.19 lakh properties.
Revenue expected to increase
Mayor Sameer Rajurkar recently advised focusing on identifying new properties and reviewing old ones. Accordingly, a GIS survey will be conducted. Newly constructed properties or redeveloped ones, such as a two-storey building expanded into three floors, will also be recorded for tax purposes. Deputy Commissioner Navale confirmed that the survey will start in May, with expectations of a significant increase in revenue.