The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued property seizure notices to number of major defaulters who have failed to pay their property taxes despite having the financial capacity, officials said.
The action has been taken under Section 203 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, civic officials said.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi has directed that strict legal action be taken if dues are not cleared immediately, they said.
“If tax payment is not made within the prescribed period, movable property will first be seized and auctioned under Sections 204 and 205. If the outstanding amount is still not recovered, the property itself will be auctioned under Section 206,” the notice states.
Property tax is a major source of revenue for the civic body and must be paid within 90 days of receiving the bill, the officials said.
The BMC follows a step-by-step recovery process, including personal follow-ups, demand letters and a final 21-day notice before seizure.
Many defaulters have not paid their dues: BMC
According to an official statement, despite repeated reminders and the availability of online payment facilities, several large number of defaulters have not paid their dues. As a result, seizure notices have been served, including penalty amounts.
The BMC has appealed to notice recipients to clear their dues immediately to avoid further action.
The list of the top 20 defaulters includes real estate firms and property owners, with outstanding amounts ranging from Rs 18 crore to over Rs 140 crore.
Citizens can pay property tax online through the BMC website, the statement said.
