Chandigarh, June 7: With outstanding property tax dues exceeding ₹200 crore, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC) has initiated the preparation of a fresh list of defaulters, recalculated on the basis of revised tax rates, officials said.
According to Ramneek Singh Bedi, chairman of the MC House Tax Committee, a special committee meeting will be convened soon to discuss the spiraling dues and strategize recovery measures. “A comprehensive recovery plan will be finalized and presented in the upcoming General House meeting,” Bedi said.
Sources within the civic body revealed that the updated defaulters’ list will primarily target major institutions, including the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) and Panjab University, which together owe over ₹90 crore despite repeated notices.
Other large defaulters include Punjab Engineering College and multiple government departments from Punjab, Haryana, and the UT Administration. Officials noted that over ₹100 crore of the dues are tied up in litigation or under dispute, further complicating recovery.
“Once the revised list is finalized, notices will be issued again to all defaulters,” an official said. The fresh tax calculation is expected to significantly raise the pending amount, especially following the recent rate revision for residential and commercial properties.
While efforts to recover arrears have historically faced delays, the MC recently collected over ₹60 crore in just two months, aided by a rebate scheme, nearly double compared to the same period last year. “It was a rare achievement and a positive sign,” said an official involved in the revenue collection drive.
Officials estimate that if the entire outstanding amount is recovered, the MC could garner over ₹300 crore this fiscal year, potentially alleviating its ongoing financial crisis.
The MC has been struggling with severe fund shortages, leading to a halt in all development projects. Even essential services like road carpeting have been suspended, with no new projects launched in recent months.
“Property tax remains the most reliable source of income for the MC,” a senior official said. “Recovery of these dues is critical to keep the city’s infrastructure and services running.”
