Citizens Demand End to Pune’s Tax Defaulter Amnesty Scheme
PUNE: Various citizen groups are calling for the cancellation of the proposed amnesty scheme designed for property tax defaulters, arguing that earlier implementations have proven ineffective. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) initiated this amnesty scheme for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, intending to offer tax defaulters discounts upon settling their dues. The scheme was later reintroduced for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Vivek Velankar from Sajag Nagrik Manch, a citizens’ organization, stated, “The recurring launch of such schemes sends the wrong message to responsible taxpayers. Many who utilized the benefits ended up defaulting on taxes again, resulting in a revenue loss for…