Civic body sends notices to 1,200 defaulters

In order to achieve the target estimate of property tax for the year 2010-11, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent over 1,200 attachment notices to property tax defaulters.

In order to achieve the target estimate of property tax for the year 2010-11, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent over 1,200 attachment notices to property tax defaulters.

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The notices have been issued to defaulters, who have not paid the provisional property tax bills issued by the civic body in September last year and the due date was December 31.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Jalota said these steps were being taken to meet the estimated property tax collection for this financial year.

The property tax collection for this financial year is Rs2,210 crore, way below the tax estimate — Rs2,811 crore.

According to the amended law — Section (212) of the BMC Act — has done away with the reminder notice called the notice of demand, which was given to the taxpayer after the deadline for the payment had expired.

Officials from the assessor and collection department said attachment notice is served 15 days after the due date has expired.

The civic body hopes that attachment notices will make defaulters pay their pending bills because if they fail to do so within 21 days, their property will be auctioned.

“We will also charge penalty, if the tax is paid after the due date,” said an official from the civic assessor and collector department.