Mira-Bhayandar: With just three weeks left in the current financial year (2024-25) which ends on 31, March, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation has managed to collect a little over Rs 213.69 crore towards property tax revenue in the past 11 months between 1, April-2024 and 6, March-2025.
The recovery figures were limited to Rs 167.06 crore in the corresponding period last year. The current recovery figures specify that 76 percent out of the total outstanding pegged at Rs 281 crore has been collected so far leaving the civic administration with a daunting task of adding more than Rs 68 crore in its kitty in the remaining three weeks.
Property tax constitutes the lion’s share in the civic body’s overall revenue generation sources. The collection figures have shown a significant surge through digital modes of payments, including links on the municipal website e-POS (point of sale) devices and mobile applications facilitated by the civic administration.
A cursory glance at the official statistics sourced from the property tax department, reveals that while more than Rs 101.43 crore was received from 1,34,748 taxpayers via digital payments, 1,56,877 people collectively paid Rs 112.26 crore by cheque or cash.
“Apart from launching an intensive collection drive, teams have been deputed to seal properties of chronic defaulters. So far, we have sealed more than 90 properties whose owners collectively owe around Rs 93 crore towards unpaid property tax dues. Penal action is being taken against those who issue dud cheques.” said chief of property tax department- Chandrakant Borse who has appealed citizens to clear their tax dues at the earliest to avoid penalty and action.
As per the MBMC registry, the total number of taxpayers is currently pegged at around 3,58,030 (commercial and residential) out of which 2,52,208 have cleared their dues even as 68,405 are yet to respond to bills and notices issued by the tax department.
688 Cheques Bounced in 11 Months!
Taxpayers had issued a total of 688 cheques, collectively amounting more than Rs 2.50 crore which were dishonoured in the last 11 months-mostly because of insufficient funds in the bank accounts. Ward number four topped the list by receiving 192, followed by ward number six and three with 163 and 121 dud cheques respectively.
After receiving notices, 519 defaulters cleared their dues amounting Rs 1.98 crore (along with penalty and cheque bounce charges). However, 169 defaulters who collectively owe Rs 51.99 lakh are yet to fall-in-line.
“Ward officers have been directed to take immediate action against the defaulters with the help of the legal department,” said Borse. Dishonour of a cheque is a criminal offence under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 which is punishable by with-imprisonment and fine.
