Defaulters on radar: Tax not paid, Amritsar Municipal Corporation finally begins sealing buildings

Charnajit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 12

Finally, the property tax wing of the Municipal Corporation (MC) has sealed 20 major commercial buildings in the city to press residents to pay the pending tax.

In a massive sealing drive, a team of the property tax wing led by nodal officer Daljit Singh sealed one of the prominent hotels — Mohan International — in the city. The hotel management hadn’t paid the tax for the last few years. Burger King, one of the prominent food brands in Novelty Complex, was also sealed by the MC team. However, the management gave cheques in the evening and it would open tomorrow.

I have instructed the staff of the property tax wing to seal 130 properties every week. They have to seal two buildings of a category in a week. Initially, we are focusing on prominent commercial establishments but no one will be exempted. We will also take action on residential units. The recovery target is a secondary thing; we have to pay tax if residents expect good roads and other infrastructure in the city. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, MC Commissioner

A newly constructed Dara Hotel on the bypass was also sealed but the owner got tax exemption under some policy of the state government. The MC officials claimed that the case was being discussed with legal experts.

The MC teams sealed two hospitals including Sarabjot Hospital at Putligarh and Lamba Hospital at GT Road. A salon and gym was also sealed at Khandwala. Another hotel on Sultanwind Road and an ATM of Union Bank was also sealed.

MC Commissioner Malwinder Singh Jaggi said: “I have instructed the staff of the property tax wing to seal 130 properties every week. There are mainly 13 types of commercial properties such as industrial units, banks/ATMs, corporate offices, multinational company offices, brand stores, hotels/guest houses, hospitals/nursing homes, private educational institutes, marriage palaces, automobile agencies, mobile towers, shopping malls, and boards/corporation offices. They have to seal two buildings of a category in a week. We will seal the building of a defaulter, who never paid tax and one who used to pay tax but has not paid during the previous years. Initially, we are focusing on prominent commercial establishments but no one will be exempted. We will also take action on residential units. The recovery target is a secondary thing; we have to pay tax if residents expect good roads and other infrastructure in the city.”