At a time when the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is facing challenges in securing funds for essential projects, a startling statistic has come to light — 261 significant properties throughout the city have failed to pay property taxes exceeding Rs25 lakh each, resulting in total arrears amounting to an astonishing Rs442.34 crore. Should NMC succeed in recovering even a fraction of these arrears, officials acknowledge that it could greatly aid the Nag River Pollution Abatement Project.
Official data indicates that the highest level of default is found in the Hanuman Nagar zone, where 21 properties collectively owe Rs106.02 crore. This is followed by the Lakadganj zone, with 29 properties defaulting on Rs101.85 crore, and the Laxmi Nagar zone, where 60 properties owe Rs72.29 crore.
The Dhantoli zone ranks next, with 48 defaulters collectively owing Rs63.06 crore, while the Dharampeth zone accounts for Rs44.77 crore from 37 properties. Even smaller zones exhibit concerning figures.
Nehru Nagar’s 13 properties owe Rs10.93 crore, Ashi Nagar’s 24 properties owe Rs29.21 crore, and Mangalwari’s 23 properties owe Rs10.81 crore. The Gandhibagh and Satranjipura zones, although lower in number, also demonstrate lax enforcement, with outstanding dues of Rs2.16 crore and Rs1.20 crore, respectively.
Civic activists argue that this substantial amount of arrears is indicative of years of inadequate enforcement and political protection of powerful property owners. “When regular citizens face penalties for minor delays, how is it that hundreds of crores remain unpaid by major defaulters? NMC’s financial predicament is self-inflicted,” stated a senior activist.
Recently, during a review meeting concerning property tax collection, the property tax department presented the zone-wise lists of defaulters to municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, emphasizing outstanding property taxes exceeding Rs25 lakh each. Following Chaudhari’s directives, the department will now focus on major tax defaulters.
The city plans to build sewerage treatment plants (STPs) at five strategic locations and upgrade two existing STPs located at Mankapur and Mokshadham ghats, both of which are positioned along the banks of the Nag and Pili rivers.
This initiative, aimed at preventing untreated sewage from entering the rivers, has been delayed due to a lack of funding. Officials from the NMC’s electrical and public health departments indicate that the NMC is facing pressure to secure its portion of the funding before state and central agencies can provide their contributions.
“The collection of substantial property tax arrears could significantly enhance NMC’s financial capacity for essential environmental initiatives,” stated an official. Given that the civic body’s reputation is already under public examination due to inadequate roads, sanitation issues, and flooding, the increasing property tax debts underscore a more profound governance dilemma. If the NMC does not implement a rigorous recovery campaign against these prominent defaulters, the aspiration for a cleaner Nag River may remain unattainable.
