23 June,2021 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Kharghar residents say since they have already paid service charge to CIDCO, retrospective property tax by PMC is grossly unfair
The transfer of a top Panvel Municipal Corporation officer to Mira-Bhayander has stunned local residents who are opposing dual taxation by PMC in the name of property tax.
At a webinar on Sunday, Kharghar and Panvel residents sought help from the Shiv Sena MP from their area. With Konkan Commissioner Annasaheb Misal, to whom PMC and Raigad collector report, retiring this month and CIDCO being without a chairman, they fear their pleas will go unheard.
"The transfer order of Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Shinde to Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation came last Friday evening. He took charge the very next day," said a source from PMC.
Known as an efficient administrator, Shinde's abrupt transfer has raised concerns amongst the citizens, though PMC called it a routine affair.
Shinde said "the promotional transfer was awaited" and that he has now got the regular posting of deputy commissioner.
Mangal Kamble, founder president of Swachh Kharghar Foundation, said the residents of Kharghar and neighbouring nodes were awaiting a hearing before Shinde and PMC chief Sudhakar Deshmukh. She said Kharghar residents are now in a fix.
"We will have to wait and see if the public representatives are able to help in resolving the property tax issue, or if it is only a political stunt keeping in mind the upcoming municipal election in 2022," said Kamble, adding that Deshmukh has assured her that Shinde's transfer won't impact the property tax issue. The matter is now with another deputy commissioner, who will work with the team that was on it under Shinde. "Also, Deshmukh said he would meet with CIDCO officials soon to discuss a way out," said Kamble.
Binu Thankappan, a representative of a few Sectors' Chairman Association, Kharghar, said, "When there is so much of pending work to be done, be it CIDCO or the PMC, and for which such high and disproportionate taxes are being levied, several Kharghar and other nearby nodes' residents have been protesting against such insensitivity shown by the authorities. In such a backdrop, if the officials concerned are shunted out, then the residents' grievances which were forwarded to these very officials will prove to be a futile exercise. It's as if such protests to the CIDCO or to the Panvel Municipal Corporation have fallen on deaf ears as the grievances which were explained to those shunted officials would now be rendered absolutely inconsequential."
Suresh Sadolikar, secretary of Vrundavan Park Cooperative Society, Kamothe, said, "PMC is a category âD' corporation in comparison to other similar corporations in the state. PMC has levied an exorbitant rate of calculation for per sq feet, which is even higher than the rate levied at Navi Mumbai, without giving any facility to residents of Kamothe or nearby nodes. Secondly, we have not been given any assurance that CIDCO would continue to levy service charges in future, and if they continue, we do not want to pay dual tax."
Sadolikar added, "Once we pay property tax today, no changes can be anticipated in the property tax bill for the next five years. Though, the property tax bill has come in my name, instead of the society name, which is the case at many societies, it doesn't mention any area or calculation as to how they have arrived at R36,816 since 2016. And after discounts, I am expected to pay Rs 25,771 on which PMC has assured that no penalty will be levied until March 2023. I won't pay the property tax until I am given a rectified bill."
CA Ramesh Prabhu, founder chairman of MahaSEWA, said citizens have requested his organisation for help. He said the matter must be sorted out by the state government at the earliest. "If proper solutions are not received from executives or through the elected representatives, MahaSewa will approach the Bombay High Court," he said.
Mangesh Ranawde, Chairman of Kharghar Taloja Colonies Welfare Association (KTCWA), said MP Shrirang Barne asked people not to pay property tax until the matter is resolved. "The second important outcome was from minister Aditi Tatkare [who was travelling and could not attend the webinar] who said she would resolve the issue within a week and speak to the commissioner."
A senior PMC official said property tax bills of Rs 700 crore have been generated. "Unless the funds come, no service can be provided to the residents." He said discussions will be held between PMC and CIDCO officials and the public representatives.
MP Shrirang Appa Barne, said, "I clearly told the people to not pay property tax, for services that are not being rendered by PMC."
He said, "The local residents informed that they used to pay service charges for various services that CIDCO had been providing, and PMC too have charged for the same services that have not even been handed over by CIDCO to them officially till date. I have even spoken to the PMC commissioner Sudhakar Deshmukh, who has clearly stated that he is only following the directives of collecting revenue through property tax as per government norms and that he has no power to make any changes in the bill that has been already generated. Changes, if any, can be done only after getting specific directives from the state government or from the municipal general body and as of now, no such directives have come from either state government or municipal general body," said Barne.
The MP said, "I will be meeting Eknath Shinde, Urban Development and PWD minister, soon on the double taxation that too retrospectively." Barne added, "A discussion with minister of state and Guardian Minister of Raigad, Aditi Tatkare, is also slated and we will keep the state government apprised about the ground situation."
Advocate Vinod Sampat, founder president of Cooperative Housing Societies Resident Association and who also attended the webinar, said, "One fails to understand why the deputy commissioner was transferred in spite of there being policies not to transfer officers before the stipulated period."
He said, "Working in government departments has its own technicalities, to begin with when a new officer comes, he takes a long time to understand. The transfer of Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Shinde to Mira-Bhayandar Mahanagar Palika is an area open for controversies. No harm could have come if he was allowed to continue for one year until the entire system with regard to levying of taxes by Panvel Municipal Corporation was regularised," said Sampat.
He added, "One fails to understand why CIDCO is in possession of roads, water, sewage etc. and levying taxes. The need of the day is the head of CIDCO and Urban Development Department should sit and resolve the issue ensuring that the residents do not pay taxes twice. It is very sad that the charges are levied by PMC retrospectively from 2016 when in some areas beyond Sector 30 Occupation Certificate itself has been received in or after 2018. The residents are thrown to a toss when it comes to lodging complaints. Water, wet-land, air pollution complaints to Panvel Municipal Corporation have resulted in deaf ears. People are told by the authorities to complain to CIDCO, for forest and MCBI, postal departments they are directed to other departments. Taxpayers deserve respect and they are devoting their valuable time and the bureaucrats are literally enjoying and abusing their position in my view," Sampat stated.
"Moreover, to compel people to accept Panvel Municipal Corporation's bill, a flat one-time discount of 30 per cent is given. In addition to the same, if money is paid online by July, 2021, then 2 per cent additional discount is given. What happens is by paying money an individual recognises the right of Panvel Municipal Corporation to collect money. The need of the day is clarity, simplicity and ensuring that there is no double taxation. Unfortunately, the residents of Panvel Municipal Corporation like Kharghar are being penalised for no fault of theirs. Cutting across political lines as a matter of survival in Panvel, the politicians are supporting the common man," he concluded.
Rs 700 crore
Property tax that PMC seeks to recover from residents
âOne fails to understand why the deputy commissioner was transferred in spite of there being policies not to transfer officers before the stipulated period. No harm could have come if he [Shinde] was allowed to continue for a year, till the entire tax system was regularised'
Vinod Sampat, founder president of Cooperative Housing Societies Resident Association
