Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is encountering difficulties in recovering approximately Rs 3,500 crore in property tax from mobile towers due to objections from operators and a state government directive to proceed cautiously until legal matters are resolved.
Data from PMC indicates that there are over 3,000 mobile towers in the city, with a survey revealing around 1,600 illegal structures. The corporation imposes commercial tax rates on these towers.
Madhav Jagtap, head of PMC's property tax department, stated, "A video conferencing meeting was held recently with the authorities concerned. The administration is seeking clarity about the directives from the state, based on which a call on future recovery will be taken."
A representative for mobile tower operators claimed the tax rates are excessive, stating, "In some cases, the mobile operators have been asked to pay around three times more than what is due. It is exorbitant, so we have approached the state and also taken the legal route to challenge PMC's claim."
Concerns about the safety of these towers have also emerged, particularly following a fire incident at a tower in Vishrantwadi in 2023.
PMC has outlined several strategies for tax recovery, including property auctions. However, the corporation typically explores other options first, such as issuing notices and temporarily sealing properties. If payments remain unpaid, PMC takes ownership, registering its name on the 7/12 abstracts before conducting an online auction.
The property tax department generates approximately Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 2,200 crore annually for PMC, with a target of Rs 2,600 crore for the current fiscal year.
Key statistics include: 1,600 illegal towers, total property tax dues of Rs 10,000 crore, and 8.5 lakh properties that have paid taxes out of 14.5 lakh under PMC's jurisdiction.