The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has created a record of sorts, thus collecting highest ever revenue in a single fiscal year 2022-23 through property tax, a major source of income for the civic body.
By March 31, the civic body surpassed all previous year property tax collections and recorded Rs107.17 crore higher than last fiscal. The total collection of property tax in 2022-23 stood at Rs 633.17 crore against Rs 526 crore of the year 2021-22. The revised target for the year was Rs 575 crore. But NMMC accrued Rs 58.17 crore more than the set goal.
It may be recalled that, NMMC had set a provision to swell its coffer by Rs 804 crore through property tax collection in its 2022-23 budget presentation, which was later revised to Rs 575 crore, and the target seemed difficult to achieve by the end of February when the civic body received just Rs 432 crore. But later, the pace of collection picked up and NMMC treasury surged to Rs 633.17 crore by March 31, a record collection of over Rs 200 crore in a single month. But many online tax payers have complained of server down which disappointed them more than once.
According to civic officials, it’s attributed to the special amnesty scheme which was on offer in a crucial time towards the penultimate slot of fiscal year. The scheme was introduced from February 15 with an offer of 75% rebate on penalty for tax defaulters till March 15. The scheme continued from March 16 to March 31 with a 50% discount on penalty. The NMMC said that Rs 130 crore was collected alone from the amnesty scheme and over 12,000 tax payers were benefited where Rs 110 crore interests was waived off. The collection in the last two days March 30 and 31 stood over Rs 35 crore, a record in itself.
NMMC commissioner and administrator Rajesh Narvekar said, “I appreciate the effort by the tax collection teams. It’s a positive sign of civic financial health which will help in the city’s development activities.”
NMMC also issued notices and attached properties for major defaulters. More than 150 defaulters with arrears of more than Rs10 lakh were attached of which around 100 defaulters paid their dues immediately.
As per civic records, Rs 558 crore was collected in 2019-20 followed by Rs 534 crore in 2020-21, Rs 526 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 633.17 crore in 2022-23.
