The Pune Municipal Corporation has launched a significant crackdown on property tax defaulters, initiating proceedings to attach 58 properties, predominantly commercial establishments, as part of its strategy to achieve revenue targets for the 2025-26 financial year. Civic officials announced this decisive action on Wednesday, marking a substantial escalation in the city's tax recovery efforts.
Targeting Major Defaulters with Special Teams
Ravi Pawar, head of PMC's property tax department, confirmed that the civic administration is specifically targeting major tax defaulters who have accumulated substantial arrears. Special teams have been deployed to execute these confiscations, reflecting the administration's commitment to improving tax compliance. According to PMC data, approximately Rs 5,500 crore remains outstanding from various defaulters, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Attachment Process and Legal Framework
PMC officials detailed the systematic approach being followed for property attachment:
- Initial notice issuance to defaulters
- Temporary sealing of properties
- Final possession and registration on 7/12 abstracts if payments remain outstanding
- Online auction of attached properties through bidding processes
This structured procedure ensures due process while maintaining pressure on defaulters to settle their outstanding dues.
Creative Recovery Measures and Public Response
In recent weeks, the administration has employed innovative tactics to encourage tax payments, including playing music bands in front of defaulters' properties as reminders of their civic obligations. These measures come as PMC manages approximately 14.5 lakh properties within its tax ambit.
Between April 2025 and January 2026, the civic body collected Rs 2,600 crore from taxpayers, representing a significant increase from the Rs 2,007 crore collected during the corresponding period in 2024-25.
Activist Concerns and Citizen Perspectives
While welcoming the crackdown on defaulters, activists and citizen groups have called for more stringent measures. Vijay Kumbhar of Surajya Sangharsha Samiti emphasized that PMC must prioritize targeting major defaulters rather than burdening diligent taxpayers with potential tax hikes.
Former corporator Shiva Mantri echoed these concerns, noting that Pune's property tax rates are already comparatively high among major Indian cities. He argued that any consideration of further tax increases should be preceded by comprehensive recovery of existing arrears.
Challenges in Newly Merged Areas
PMC officials acknowledged that restrictions on property tax recovery in the 34 newly merged areas have hampered overall collection efforts during the previous financial year. This administrative challenge has contributed to the current aggressive approach toward established defaulters within the corporation's jurisdiction.
The property attachment drive represents a critical component of PMC's financial strategy, balancing revenue generation with fair taxation practices while addressing long-standing compliance issues within Pune's commercial and residential sectors.
