The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has decided to initiate penal action against all property tax defaulters. The corporation is said to have prepared a list of nearly 4,600 defaulters, including government agencies under its jurisdiction that have not paid taxes for the last few years.
Sources said that notices have been issued against several government departments like the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Transco Limited, Power Grid, G.T.B. Hospital, Northern Railway and a number of others as property taxes worth crores are due against them.
The corporation, which is not able to meet its expenses due to financial crunch, said that more than Rs 300 crore is due from the property tax defaulters and stern action might be taken to collect the amount. The corporation has also asked the property owners to pay conversion charges for change in use from residential to commercial on notified mixed land roads.
The data provided by the municipal body revealed that property tax worth Rs 98.55 crore was due from the DDA. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited owes the civic corporation Rs 13.66 crore, the Directorate of Education Rs 14.63 crore, Delhi Transco Limited Rs 89 crore, the Delhi police Rs 1.08 crore, Northern Railway Rs 4.29 crore, G.T.B. Hospital Rs 2.98 crore DUSIB Rs 61 lakh and the Department of Post Rs 55 lakh.
The sources said that apart from sending notices to the defaulters, the corporation also approached them many times. EDMC officials feel that the financial health of the agency was bound to improve once the defaulters pay their dues.
The sources said that the corporation was also planning to take strict action against the defaulters who owed huge amounts. “Action against the defaulters would include attachment of properties, attachment of accounts and even auction of the said properties.”
A senior official said the corporation had personally approached some defaulters to clear their dues.
