SURAT: Residents of the 700 homes demolished in Pragya Nagar at City Light find themselves in a perplexing situation. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is demanding property tax for properties it had demolished a year ago.
Residents received eviction notices for redevelopment two years back, which led to their gradual relocation. Although the evacuation took place, SMC continued collecting property tax for two years, even for land where no structures remained.
Pragya Nagar, a colony designed for economically weaker sections (EWS), contained 44 buildings with 16 flats each, accommodating approximately 3,000 residents. Many have since moved to rented homes without receiving any financial assistance, as the redevelopment has yet to commence. The flats were owned by the residents through a government-subsidized scheme and were demolished due to their deteriorating condition, according to SMC officials.
Typically, in redevelopment scenarios, the developer pays rent to flat owners until the new homes are ready. However, residents of Pragya Nagar have not received any rent relief or exemptions from the property taxes for homes that no longer exist.
Savita Patel, who relocated with her family to a rental home in Parvat village a year ago, stated, “Many families like mine are struggling financially. After the demolition, we had to rent accommodation, and now they’re demanding property tax for the home that no longer exists.”
As explained by Anil Redekar, a goods vehicle driver, “Notices to vacate were issued in 2024, leading to gradual relocations. The demolition occurred in 2025, but SMC still sent out property tax bills for both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.”
Among the 44 buildings, residents of only 15 were charged for water usage, and they expressed uncertainty regarding when redevelopment will begin and when they will return to their homes.
Himanshu Patel, an insurance employee, remarked, “Not only am I receiving the property tax bill, but I also face additional water charges. Although most flats are the same size, some towers have bills reflecting extra water charges of around Rs 500, while others have lower amounts.”
SMC officials from the Athwa Zone were unable to clarify why tax bills were still being issued post-demolition.
