Activists and Leaders Welcome PMC’s Decision to Avoid Property Tax Amnesty Scheme for Defaulters

In a move that has been widely welcomed by civic activists and political leaders, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided against announcing an amnesty scheme for property tax defaulters this financial year. Critics of the scheme argue that it unfairly benefits defaulters while penalizing honest taxpayers who fulfill their obligations on time.

Civic activist Vivek Velenkar expressed relief over the decision, stating, “We were strongly opposed to this scheme because it is unjust to honest taxpayers. Regular taxpayers pay their dues within the first two months of the financial year, while defaulters often wait until the last month to clear their dues without facing penalties under such schemes.”

Velenkar further revealed that an RTI inquiry had uncovered a troubling pattern: nearly 50% of defaulters were repeat offenders exploiting the system. “We urged the municipal commissioner to either scrap the scheme or amend it to prevent individuals from benefiting multiple times. The fact that the PMC has not announced the scheme gives us hope that our concerns have been heard,” he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ujwal Keskar also voiced his support for the decision, emphasizing that the amnesty scheme was not only unfair to honest taxpayers but also detrimental to the PMC’s revenue. “We opposed the scheme because it was a clear injustice. It’s encouraging to see the PMC taking a stand against it,” Keskar said.

However, the decision has not been without its challenges. Activist Sudhir Kulkarni noted that there has been significant pressure from certain political quarters to reintroduce the scheme. Despite this, activists remain steadfast in their opposition.

Adding to the intrigue, Madhav Jagtap, the head of the PMC’s property tax department, has reportedly gone on leave with just days remaining in the financial year. While the reasons for his sudden leave remain unclear, it has sparked speculation about the internal dynamics surrounding the decision.

The PMC’s move has been hailed as a step toward ensuring fairness and accountability in tax collection. As the financial year comes to a close, the administration’s decision not to offer amnesty to defaulters sends a strong message: honesty and timely compliance will not be overshadowed by leniency for those who evade their responsibilities.