Residents of Pune seeks reduction in property tax for merged villages

Residents of Uruli-Phursungi, a group of villages merged with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) five years ago, are demanding a reduction in property tax as they are not receiving enough water. According to the residents, the PMC charges nearly five times more than the gram panchayat, and they believe that their tax should be reduced to be on par with the gram panchayat rates. They argue that the civic administration is not providing enough water to the villages and citizens are still dependent on tankers.

The citizens’ groups are demanding that the PMC and state authorities slash the tax and make it on par with the gram panchayat rates. However, PMC officials say that a reduction in levy is a policy decision and cannot be taken at the civic administration level in the absence of an elected body.

The citizens of Uruli-Phursungi are facing multiple issues related to water availability and the maintenance of existing water supply facilities. They believe that an alternative arrangement should be made if the civic body cannot cope with the demands, even suggesting demerging the villages as a last resort.

Property owners in merged villages said that on average, Rs 2 per square ft was charged as property tax per annum by the gram panchayat. The civic body charges Rs 2 per sqft per month, which is nearly five times the gram panchayat rate. A senior PMC official said that the PMC has followed all rules to increase the levy gradually per year and made it at par with PMC rates in five years. Therefore, property owners have paid lower tax compared to what residents of PMC were paying.

In conclusion, the residents of Uruli-Phursungi are facing a severe water crisis, and they believe that their heavy property tax is not being utilized effectively to provide them with adequate water supply. They demand that the PMC and state authorities reduce the property tax and provide better water supply facilities to the merged villages. The PMC officials say that a reduction in the levy is a policy decision and cannot be taken at the civic administration level. The issue remains unresolved, and the citizens’ groups are continuing to press for their demands to be met.

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Residents of Pune seeks reduction in property tax for merged villages

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