Taxes Without Facilities?

Anger Erupts in Pune's 32 Merged Villages

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The long-running tax dispute in the 32 villages merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has flared up again, with corporators sharply questioning the civic administration over imposing property taxes despite the lack of basic amenities.

At a meeting held on Monday, corporators from the merged villages expressed strong dissatisfaction after the PMC administration rejected demands to reconsider the tax structure.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, corporators from the merged villages and senior civic officials, where the issue of rising taxes and their impact was on local residents discussed in detail.

Corporators argued that residents in the merged villages are being asked to pay urban-level property taxes even though basic facilities such as proper roads, water supply and drainage systems are still inadequate in many areas. Under PMC rules, villages merged into the civic limits generally receive full urban infrastructure only after five to seven years. However, residents claim that taxes have already increased significantly, leading leading to growing resentment among local citizens.