NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is facing significant challenges in securing funding for essential projects, now compounded by the revelation that 261 prime properties in the city have defaulted on property tax payments exceeding Rs 25 lakh each, with total arrears reaching a shocking Rs 442.34 crore.
If NMC can recover even some of these dues, officials believe it could greatly benefit the Nag River Pollution Abatement Project.
As per official records, the most substantial defaults occur in the Hanuman Nagar zone, where 21 properties collectively owe Rs 106.02 crore. This is closely followed by Lakadganj zone with 29 properties in default for Rs 101.85 crore, and Laxmi Nagar zone with 60 properties owing Rs 72.29 crore. Dhantoli zone has 48 defaulters totaling Rs 63.06 crore, while Dharampeth zone reports Rs 44.77 crore from 37 properties.
Even smaller zones are concerning. In Nehru Nagar, 13 properties owe Rs 10.93 crore, while Ashi Nagar’s 24 properties owe Rs 29.21 crore, and Mangalwari’s 23 properties owe Rs 10.81 crore. Zones like Gandhibagh and Satranjipura, though fewer in number, also show considerable outstanding dues of Rs 2.16 crore and Rs 1.20 crore, respectively.
Civic activists point out that this mounting debt reflects years of inadequate enforcement and protection of powerful property owners. “Ordinary citizens face penalties for minor delays, yet hundreds of crores remain unpaid by significant defaulters. NMC’s financial issues are self-inflicted,” remarked an activist.
In a recent meeting focusing on property tax collection, the department shared zone-wise lists of defaulters with municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, emphasizing outstanding amounts over Rs 25 lakh. Following Chaudhari’s directive, the department is set to focus efforts on major tax defaulters.
The city plans to build sewerage treatment plants (STPs) at five key locations and rehabilitate two existing STPs at Mankapur and Mokshadham ghats, both adjacent to the Nag and Pili rivers. This project, intended to prevent untreated sewage from entering the rivers, has been halted due to lack of funds.
According to officials from NMC’s electrical and public health departments, there is mounting pressure to secure the city’s share of funding before contributions from state and central agencies can be accessed. “Recovering these large property tax debts could significantly enhance NMC’s finances for crucial environmental projects,” stated one official.
With the civic body already under public scrutiny for poor infrastructure, sanitation, and flooding, the escalating property tax arrears underline a more profound governance crisis. Unless NMC implements a rigorous recovery strategy against these influential defaulters, the aspiration for a cleaner Nag River may be unattainable.
