Navi Mumbai :- achieved a significant milestone in recovering pending dues with a whopping 5.55 crore collection in arrears of property tax, cess, and local body tax during a recent Lok Adalat. This event also witnessed the recovery of a substantial 1.33 lakhs in water bill arrears, providing a major boost to the corporation’s finances.
The Mahaloka Adalat, organized in the Additional District Court at Navi Mumbai, played host to this remarkable feat. NMMC submitted three lists of defaulters to the Additional District Court, targeting arrears of property tax payments, cess and local body tax payments, and water charges arrears.
Notices were promptly issued through the court to all arrears defaulters, urging them to attend the Lok Adalat and clear their dues. Remarkably, a large number of citizens responded by paying their outstanding amounts promptly. In a similar vein, numerous citizens flocked to the Belapur court to settle their overdue bills.
- Property Tax Defaulters: Notices were issued to 834 property tax defaulters, whose arrears totaled a staggering 11.12 crores. Out of these, 95 defaulters stepped up, contributing 1.16 crores towards the recovery in the Mahaloka Adalat.
- Cess and Local Body Tax Defaulters: NMMC issued notices to 463 defaulters of cess and local body tax. Of these, 29 defaulters paid a substantial 4.39 crores in arrears.
- Water Bill Arrears: To encourage compliance, the Municipal Commissioner granted a 25 percent concession in the penalty amount for water payment defaulters. This led to the recovery of overdue amounts, interest, and a 75 percent penalty. A total of 2288 notices were sent through the court for water dues recovery, with 2053 of them being served successfully. The Lok Adalat saw the recovery of an impressive 1 lakh 33 thousand on the day.
The Lok Adalat, dealing with cases before they reach the court and cases pending compromise, has proven to be a fruitful avenue for recovering arrears in property tax, cess, local body tax, and water charges. Defaulters are responding positively to notices from the Additional District Court, indicating a willingness to clear their dues.
NMMC attributes this success to the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Mr. Rajesh Narvekar and the dedication of key officials, including Additional Commissioner Shri. Sujata Dhole and City Engineer Shri. Sanjay Desai. The additional revenue generated through these recoveries will be instrumental in enhancing civic facilities across Navi Mumbai.
This significant achievement reflects NMMC’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and the betterment of the city’s infrastructure and services.
