BMC attaches 4,360 properties of tax-defaulters

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in its ongoing drive to recover property tax to the tune of Rs 388 crore, attached 4,360 properties of those that defaulted on paying property tax. The civic body took the stern step after defaulters did not heed to the legal notices sent to them. BMC has earlier warned all property owners to pay the property tax within a stipulated period or face legal action. Many property owners didn't respond to the BMC reminders and warnings, and the civic body started the process of property attachment.

Taxing time: According to data of all 24 wards, South Mumbai property owners regularly paid tax. File pic

MiD DAY had earlier reported on the notices issued by BMC to owners asking them to pay their tax by March 31 or risk auction (‘Rs 8,500 cr property tax sword hangs over 4,000 city buildings, March 30). Although BMC has not physically sealed the properties, defaulters now cannot sell or transfer their properties. "We have started taking action against defaulters and if they don't adhere, their properties will be auctioned," said SS Shinde, BMC joint municipal commissioner. He also informed that the action would boost BMC's revenues, as nobody would like to enter into legal tangles.

Among the 4,360 properties attached, evasion by property owners in Andheri (W) was the highest. 1,015 are from K-west (Andheri) ward while R-south (Kandivli) ward is second with 616 properties. According to data of all 24 wards, which is available with MiD DAY, South Mumbai property owners regularly paid tax, and have the lowest figure of defaulters. Only 30 properties are from A-ward (Colaba to CST) while N-ward (Ghatkopar) had 31. "If owners don't pay the dues even after the attachment, we wait for 21 days and then start the auction process," said a senior official from BMC's Assessment and Collection department. The attached property owner has to pay a levy of 2 per cent per month, which works to 24 per cent per annum.

List of defaulters
Maximum properties attached
are from five wards:
K-west (Andheri): 1,015
R-south (Kandivli): 616
R-north (Dahisar): 383
Borivli: 352
P-south (Goregaon): 291

Total attached properties: 4,360
Total due amount: Rs 388.39 croreu00a0u00a0