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The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) has collected around INR 82.6 crore in property tax dues through its extended "Freedom from Penalty" amnesty scheme. The programme, earlier limited to residential properties, was widened to include commercial and industrial properties as well. The scheme allows a 95% waiver on penalty charges if dues are cleared in a single payment. More than 37,000 property owners have benefited so far. Civic officials said tax receipts for the ongoing financial year are already showing strong progress and could surpass last year's collections.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) recently decided to extend its "Freedom from Penalty" amnesty scheme, bringing in roughly INR 82.6 crore in property tax from defaulters. Initially applicable only to residential properties, it now applies to commercial and industrial units as well. This wider reach has clearly enhanced uptake. Advertisement
Between mid-July and mid-August, over 37,000 property owners settled their dues under the 95 percent waiver on late-payment charges offered for one-time full payments. Civic officials encouraged further participation, noting the strong public response.
By mid-August, property tax collections for the current fiscal year stood at INR 146.1 crore and water tax collections reached INR 11.5 crore. For context, the prior year's totals were INR 157.7 crore and INR 26.3 crore, respectively. With more than half the fiscal year yet to pass, authorities expect this year's revenue to surpass last year's.
That expansion was prompted by appeals from business groups and political leaders. The scheme's extension is expected to further boost participation from diverse property holders. Payment can now be made at ward offices or via the CSMC's online portal, making it convenient for all.
Earlier this month, officials had aimed to recover up to INR 300 crore in outstanding dues, which include around INR 1,230 crore in total dues comprising tax and interest. About INR 229 crore of that sums up to interest, which the scheme is set to waive under specified conditions depending on timing of payment.
This is not CSMC's first such effort; similar drives have been adopted by other civic bodies in the region in recent years, with varying impact. Last year, a comparable initiative in Nashik recovered around INR 40 crore from arrears, showing that such schemes can yield significant short-term returns when well-targeted.
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