As the financial year end approaches, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has intensified its efforts to recover outstanding property taxes, securing a significant sum in a short period. The civic body's aggressive drive has yielded substantial results, bolstering its coffers for essential urban services and infrastructure projects.
Major Revenue Collection in Final Push
Over the past one and a half months, MCG has collected a notable Rs 30 crore in property tax. This amount represents nearly 10% of the total property tax revenue target set for the current financial year. Officials from the taxation department confirmed these figures, highlighting the success of the focused recovery campaign.
For the 2023-24 financial year, MCG had initially aimed to collect Rs 275 crore from property tax. However, the corporation has already surpassed this goal, having gathered a total of Rs 295 crore so far. The recent drive has been crucial in exceeding the target and ensuring robust revenue streams.
Strict Action Against Defaulters
The recovery drive was not limited to collection alone. To enforce compliance, the civic body took stringent measures against persistent defaulters. 55 properties were sealed due to non-payment of outstanding dues. Furthermore, the taxation department issued 410 notices to property owners who had failed to pay their taxes.
Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya emphasized the importance of this revenue for the city's progress. He stated, "Revenue collection is extremely necessary to strengthen the city's development works, basic facilities and civic services, and similar strict and effective action will continue in this direction in future as well."
Next Target: Illegal Commercial Activities
With the annual target already achieved, MCG is now shifting its focus to plugging potential revenue leaks. A major area of concern is commercial activities operating illegally from residential properties. The corporation is specifically targeting unauthorized paying guest (PG) accommodations and guest houses that escape the higher commercial property tax bracket.
To identify such violations, MCG has adopted a tech-savvy approach. It has sought data from popular real estate portals like Housing.com and Magicbricks. Additionally, it is gathering information from online accommodation platforms such as SaltStayz and Houzer, along with data on unauthorized PG advertisements flagged by its own advertisement branch.
This collected data will be meticulously cross-verified with existing property tax records. The exercise aims to pinpoint properties that are being used for commercial purposes but are registered under the residential category, leading to significant revenue loss for the corporation.
Officials revealed that a recent review meeting was held with zonal taxation officers, where clear instructions were given to prioritize and increase tax collection. This streamlined enforcement action is a strategic move to ensure a stronger financial position as the corporation prepares for the upcoming financial year.
