Pune: PCMC Transfers Water Dues Collection To Tax Collection Department

Pimpri, 15th July 2023: In response to the Water Supply Department’s failure to collect water dues, PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh has made the decision to transfer the responsibility of water dues collection to the Tax Collection Department of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). As part of this transition, 28-meter inspectors have been appointed under the tax collection department.

With a total of six hundred and two thousand properties in Pimpri-Chinchwad, including domestic and commercial premises, the city boasts one hundred and seventy-five thousand official taps. Last year, the municipal corporation’s tax department successfully collected Rs 817 crore. However, while the revenue of the tax collection department continues to rise, the water supply department is struggling to collect the expected water tax. Outstanding amounts owed by the water supply department to tap holders exceed Rs 60 crore.

Given the technical nature of tasks such as water supply-related work, maintenance repairs, and addressing grievances, the effective recovery of water dues has proven challenging. It is crucial to enhance the recovery of past dues, streamline follow-ups, address bill correction cases, and conduct awareness campaigns. Consequently, the responsibility of water dues collection, being revenue-related, has been entrusted to the Tax Collection Department. As a result, the 28 meter inspectors from the water supply department have been placed under the tax collection department.

“The Tax Collection Department has leveraged modern technology to enhance tax collection, employing measures such as seizure campaigns. We will adopt similar strategies to maximize revenue from water dues. Effective immediately, the department has taken charge of water dues collection,” stated Nilesh Deshmukh, Assistant Commissioner of the Taxation and Tax Collection Department, PCMC.