PUNE: On Monday, Mayor Manjusha Nagpure announced the formation of a committee to address property tax concerns from citizens in merged areas. The committee will engage with representatives from these areas to formulate suggestions regarding property tax.
The state government has halted property tax collection from these merged areas following citizen complaints about exorbitant taxes imposed on both residential and commercial properties. Mayor Nagpure stated that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) would consult the state government on this matter.
During the meeting, citizens and their representatives voiced that properties were being taxed excessively. They argued that taxes were assessed without reference to the annual rateable value (ARV) of neighboring villages, advocating instead for a taxation structure reflecting that used by the previous gram panchayats. They highlighted that the heavy tax burden was unfair, given that the PMC had yet to provide essential infrastructure.
Representatives also indicated that the recent draft civic budget for 2026-27 lacked adequate funding for infrastructure projects.
Mayor Nagpure encouraged citizens from the merged areas to submit their written suggestions and feedback to the committee, which will determine the best course of action after deliberating on their concerns and seeking state government advice.
The newly elected corporators from merged areas had called for a special meeting to discuss property tax issues during the first general body meeting of the PMC.
