Panvel Municipal Corporation’s property tax demand angers Kharghar residents

While CIDCO manages water and roads, etc., residents said they are still fighting for proper garbage pick-up and disposal in Sectors 26-36

Residents of Kharghar and flat owners within the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) have opposed dual and retrospective property tax. While they have been paying service tax to CIDCO, the PMC also wants them to pay property tax since 2016, when it was formed.

Legal experts and MahaSEWA (Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association) say the dual taxation cannot be levied since services like road and water in Kharghar node continue to be with CIDCO. The residents have now taken up the matter with the state government and local politicians apart from mulling a court move.

Mangesh Ranawde, chairman of Kharghar Taloja Colonies Welfare Association (KTCWA), said, "We are ready to pay either service tax or property tax. The PMC needs to withdraw the retrospective taxation as many buildings in Sector 30 and beyond have received occupation certificates [OC] only in 2018."

KTCWA and MahaSEWA discussed the matter during a webinar on June 13. The members said property tax for five years would be equal or more than the service tax that they have paid to CIDCO since 2016. They called the demand "unjust".

In the past five years, the members said, PMC directed them to agencies like CIDCO, pollution control board and the forest department whenever they raised issues like water supply, air pollution and wetland protection. They are still fighting for proper garbage pick-up and disposal in Kharghar Sectors 26-36.

KTCWA and MahaSEWA have already sent a representation to CM Uddhav Thackeray and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde and plan to meet them soon. "If still no recourse, we will take a legal stand on the same," said Ranawde.

Mangal Kamble, founder president of Swachh Kharghar Foundation, said, "CIDCO is yet to hand over the Kharghar node to PMC and due to this neither is CIDCO managing nor PMC is able to maintain anything and residents continue to suffer due to bad roads and other basic infrastructure. Round-the-clock water supply and even basic civic amenities are in a shambles." Kamble said property tax is essential for a civic body, but it cannot be under the ambit of dual taxation.

Kamble said they have been told that the property tax was cleared by PMC's standing committee way back in 2019. "Today, most of the elected representatives are raising slogans [against double taxation] and are pretending to be the common man's supporters. They should pay the taxes on our behalf. Also, we have learnt that a few of the politically aspiring voices allegedly did not even allow the PMC outsourced staff to carry out surveys of their own house."

Kamble said the tax bills have been raised against societies despite PMC's claims that the invoices were sent to flat owners. She said people need more clarity on this.

"Unfortunately residents of Kharghar are being taken for granted by both CIDCO and PMC," added Kamble.

Ramesh Prabhu, founder chairman of MahaSEWA, said, "CIDCO says, the complete handover has so far not taken place and they are continuing to levy their charges. PMC is levying taxes based on the decision taken by the standing committee. In the process, the citizens are made to pay double taxation. The government will have to sort out this." He said their final option will be the Bombay High Court.

Kharghar resident Dr P Sekhar, who is also the chairman, MTGF, said, "The corporation needs money and there are innovative solutions through proper and secured governance. After COVID, the public is looking for a better system rather than double taxes."

"Whatever we have already paid to CIDCO should be waived by PMC and the remaining we are ready to pay. Water supply and road maintenance is still under CIDCO so how come PMC is charging retrospectively?" asked retired Air India staffer Pradeep Inamdar, who lives in Sector 19.

The other side

A PMC official said they have so far not collected taxes from any of the nodes other than the old Panvel area. "We are only following the 2019 resolution. Moreover, discounts are being given on property tax and those paying online get an extra 2 per cent rebate. The PMC commissioner also arranged a Facebook interaction with locals to clarify the stand," said the official.