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OTS lifeline: 2.24 lakh houses stand to benefit as LMC eyes 776 crore in dues

According to official records the data shows an arrear demand of ₹497.42 crore against these properties, while accumulated interest demand stands at ₹278.59 crore

Published on: Aug 21, 2026, 21:07:43 IST
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More than 2.24 lakh houses in Lucknow could benefit from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s (LMC) one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, even as the civic body aims to recover 776 crore in years-old property tax arrears and accumulated interest from these properties. The opening demand report for 2026-27 shows 2,24,749 houses have not paid their property tax.

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation headquarters in Lucknow (HT File Photo)
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation headquarters in Lucknow (HT File Photo)

According to official records the data shows an arrear demand of 497.42 crore against these properties, while accumulated interest demand stands at 278.59 crore.

The OTS scheme runs from August 15 to December 15, and the LMC gets a four-month window to pursue the 2.24 lakh unpaid properties and recover years-old revenue.

LMC chief tax assessment officer Ashok Singh said that similar figures had emerged in previous financial years. Under the OTS scheme, property owners will have the opportunity to benefit from the waiver of interest. He said that in cases where a new property tax assessment is carried out, the interest and arrears arising from the revised assessment will also be covered under the initiative.

2.24 lakh houses form key OTS pool

For LMC, the scheme offers a chance to convert a substantial portion of its pending demand into actual revenue instead of allowing arrears to continue accumulating.

Zone 6 has the highest number of unpaid houses at 59,663, accounting for more than a quarter of the total unpaid properties. It is followed by Zone 3 with 39,088 houses and Zone 8 with 32,759.

Similarly, Zone 7 has 23,864 unpaid houses, while Zone 1 has 19,865. Zones 2 and 4 have 19,094 and 18,554 unpaid properties respectively. Zone 5 has the lowest number, at 11,862.

776 crore recovery opportunity

The zone-wise figures show that the civic body faces a substantial revenue recovery challenge. Zone 1 has the highest arrear demand at 98.65 crore, followed by Zone 8 at 97.73 crore. Zone 6, which has the maximum number of unpaid houses, has an arrear demand of 69.33 crore.

The interest burden is also significant. Zone 1 has 72.90 crore in interest demand, followed by Zone 6 with 48.90 crore and Zone 8 with 39.11 crore.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Animesh Mishra

Animesh Mishra is a Correspondent with Hindustan Times, based in Lucknow, where he reports on the evolving landscape of urban governance and infrastructure in the state capital. Covering key civic and development beats including the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), Uttar Pradesh Excise Department, and Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board (Awas Vikas Parishad)-his reporting focuses on key issues and exclusive reports. Driven by a passion for public-interest journalism, Animesh has reported extensively on civic administration, urban planning, policy implementation, and governance. He is particularly drawn to investigative, off-beat, and human-interest stories that uncover overlooked issues and bring meaningful narratives to readers. His work aims to hold institutions accountable while highlighting the real-life impact of government decisions on communities.

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