Property Speaks

Indore: Time for persuasion seems to be over for many defaulters, who have not paid property tax to the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) despite repeated efforts over the last three years.

The corporation, for the first time in its history, has set out to auction the plots because the owners have not paid the property tax. Initially, 17 plots have been identified for auction. Process has begun to obtain offer rate from collector office to auction plots. Auctioning may take place next week. According to highly placed sources, these plots are situated in Saket, Bilawali and Scheme no 54. IMC has divided entire city in five rate zones to determine price of the plot.

IMC has identified around 40,000 properties which will be attached and subsequently auctioned to recover pending dues. Pdrocess will be initiated next week. Offset amount will be decided from the collector office. IMC officials said the revenue department has decided to identify five plots in every zone for auctioning. Revenue in-charge Chandu Shinde said in first phase two properties in every zone will be attached.

Indore has around 3.8 lakh properties. Out of these, only 1.3 lakh owners have paid their taxes till now. This, despite the fact that IMC has been imposing a surcharge of 15% on pending tax after December 31.

The civic body has prepared a list of around one lakh people who have not paid property tax for more than three years. Officials said that they will act against all the defaulters. This is the first list and not the final one. As per the IMC rules, in case of open plot, its price is decided on the basis of size. The colony in which the open plot is located is identified. Taking into account prevailing rates in the area, rent of open plot of that ward or block of the ward is worked out.