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Mohali district's municipal bodies have witnessed an exceptional surge in property tax collections under the ongoing One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, bringing in INR 11.43 crore within just 19 days. This drive, initiated to recover pending dues with penalty waivers, saw Zirakpur contribute the highest at INR 7.53 crore, followed by Kharar and Derabassi. In an effort to facilitate taxpayer convenience, municipal offices remained open over weekends. Officials confirmed that the scheme offers full and partial penalty waivers based on payment timelines. This performance reflects growing public responsiveness and an efficient urban governance framework.
Mohali district's seven urban local bodies have collectively recovered INR 11.43 crore in property tax dues under the state government's One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme within just 19 days of its implementation. The initiative, aimed at encouraging taxpayers to clear their long-standing dues, is being seen as a major success across the region, with Zirakpur, Kharar, and Derabassi municipalities reporting the largest contributions. Advertisement
According to official data, Zirakpur Municipal Council led with collections worth INR 7.53 crore, while Kharar collected INR 2.09 crore and Derabassi followed with INR 96 lakh. Smaller urban bodies such as Nayagaon, Kurali, Banur, and Lalru collectively contributed INR 85 lakh. These figures highlight a widespread and enthusiastic response to the scheme across the district.
The OTS scheme provides full waiver on interest and penalty amounts for those who settle their dues by the end of July. A 50% waiver remains available for those who pay during the subsequent period, which extends till the end of the year. In light of the positive public engagement, authorities have ensured that municipal offices remain operational over weekends throughout the duration of the scheme to make the payment process more accessible and convenient for citizens.
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal expressed satisfaction with the district's performance, attributing the success to the proactive efforts of both the administrative teams and the public's willingness to regularize their tax obligations. She noted that such positive participation reflects growing awareness among citizens about the importance of contributing to local governance.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) Anmol Singh Dhaliwal has been personally overseeing the functioning of major councils like Zirakpur and Kharar. He pointed out that this level of compliance not only boosts local revenues but also allows for better infrastructure planning and delivery of civic services. Dhaliwal also credited the civic body staff, who worked extended hours, for their role in ensuring smooth execution and coordination of the scheme.
The remarkable collection in just 19 days also reflects a shift in taxpayer behaviour and responsiveness. In comparison, the entire fiscal year 2023-24 had seen Mohali civic bodies collecting a total of around INR 50 crore. This current pace suggests that the district could comfortably exceed its previous annual figures well before the scheme ends.
The OTS initiative has also found success in other parts of Punjab. For instance, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation recently reported recovering INR 2.42 crore from over 25,700 defaulters under the same scheme, albeit over a longer span of six weeks. This points to a broader trend across the state where timely policy interventions and citizen outreach are helping bridge tax collection gaps.
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