With less than a month left to meet its poperty tax collection target, Trichy Corporation is cracking down on top defaulters, mostly commercial properties that have failed to pay dues for over three years. While 77% of the total property tax demand of Rs137.3 crore has been collected, arrears recovery remains sluggish, with only 38% of the Rs51.6 crore pending tax recovered as of March 2. Corporation commissioner V Saravanan said commercial properties with long-overdue taxes are being repeatedly warned. For those defaulting for over three years, the civic body is disconnecting underground drainage (UGD) connections. In one such case, officials severed the UGD link of a commercial property on Vaanapattarai Street in Ward 14 over unpaid dues of Rs19.6 lakh. The owner must clear the arrears and bear the reconnection cost to restore the service. The crackdown has pushed overall property tax collection to 66% as of March 2. In the past month, arrears collection increased by Rs3 crore, rising from Rs16.6 crore on Jan 30 to Rs19.5 crore. For the financial year 2024-25, the total tax revenue, including property tax, vacant land tax, water charges, UGD charges, and professional tax, has surpassed 50%. However, non-tax revenue from corporation-owned property rentals and water charges remains low, prompting further action in these sectors.
 

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