The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has sent notices to 450 property tax defaulters, each of whom owes more than Rs 1 lakh, instructing them to settle their outstanding payments within 15 days. This action was taken following directives from municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri, who mandated the property tax department to pinpoint significant defaulters in each division and initiate rigorous recovery efforts.
For the current financial year (2025-26), the civic body has established a property tax collection goal of Rs 270 crore. However, as of February 10, NMC has only managed to collect Rs 215 crore, resulting in a shortfall of Rs 55 crore that needs to be recovered in the remaining one-and-a-half months. In comparison, during the same period last financial year, NMC had collected Rs 220 crore, indicating that this year’s collection is Rs 5 crore less than the previous fiscal year’s performance on the same date.
Civic officials have attributed the initial delay in tax collection to a considerable number of NMC staff being occupied with election duties over the last three months, which hindered recovery initiatives. “With the civic elections now completed, the administration has commenced efforts to enhance tax recovery in the concluding phase of the financial year.
Divisional officers have been directed to implement all necessary actions to maximize collections from defaulters,” stated an official. In addition, outstanding property tax arrears that have accumulated over the past five to six years have reached nearly Rs 500 crore. “Therefore, the administration is now focusing on recovering both the current year’s dues and the significant backlog,” the official added.
Officials noted that the civic body must increase revenue mobilization in light of the forthcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela, as NMC is obligated to contribute 20% of the total funding for various infrastructure and development projects planned for the religious event.
