Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided not to implement the ‘Abhay’ scheme this year, leaving thousands of property tax defaulters in distress. The scheme, which provided tax relief in previous years, will not be introduced this time, and defaulters must pay their dues before the financial year ends. Those failing to do so will face strict action against their properties, according to a warning issued by the municipal administration.
For the past several years, PMC had been offering tax relief to defaulters through the ‘Abhay’ scheme, allowing them to clear dues without penalties. However, despite this initiative, the number of defaulters kept increasing. Complaints were raised that many were intentionally delaying payments, misusing the scheme’s benefits. Various social and voluntary organizations had also demanded that the scheme be discontinued to prevent such exploitation.
No ‘Abhay’ Scheme This Year, Defaulters Must Pay Immediately
This year, PMC has remained firm on its decision to not introduce the scheme. However, many property owners have not yet cleared their dues, assuming that the scheme would be announced at the last moment, as in previous years. Additionally, in certain areas, political representatives have put up banners regarding the scheme, further misleading citizens and creating confusion.
Financial Targets and Reasons for Discontinuation
The municipal corporation had set a revenue target of ₹2,700 crore from property tax for the 2024-25 financial year. However, only ₹2,180 crore has been collected so far. Furthermore, due to state government directives, PMC is restricted from recovering tax dues from newly merged villages, further affecting revenue collection.
"PMC has not implemented the ‘Abhay’ scheme for property tax this year. With just ten days remaining, all citizens must immediately clear their dues. Otherwise, action will be taken against the properties of defaulters."
— Prithviraj B. P., Additional Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation