PUNE, 4 NOV. Residents of Fursungi and Uruli Devachi have raised objections as the Fursungi-Uruli Devachi Municipal Council is issuing tax bills that include outstanding arrears owed to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The villagers have firmly refused to pay the PMC dues and have warned that they will approach the court if the Municipal Council does not issue new, revised bills excluding the PMC arrears.
The residents have shown willingness to pay the tax from the time the Fursungi and Uruli Devachi Municipal Council was established. However, they are opposing the current bills because the outstanding tax of the Pune Municipal Corporation is being added to their current tax demand. Social activists Ulhas Shewale, Vishal Harpale, Pravin Harpale, Nilesh Pawar, and Kapil Bhadale questioned why the residents should pay the exorbitant 'Jizya' (excessive) tax levied by the PMC when the civic body has not carried out any substantial development work in their two villages.
Fursungi and Uruli Devachi were merged into the Pune Municipal Corporation in 2017. However, due to the high taxes and negligible work, the residents demanded to be excluded from the PMC, leading the State Government to finally establish a separate Municipal Council for these two villages in 2024. During the period of their merger with PMC, the residents were charged an exorbitant tax, increased by about seven to thirteen times. Due to the imposition of such high taxes, and the lack of development work, many residents avoided paying the PMC tax, leading to a rise in arrears.
Unease Among Aspiring Candidates Due to Lack of No-Objection Certificate
Currently, the elections for the Fursungi and Uruli Devachi Municipal Council have been announced. Consequently, aspiring candidates for the corporator post are required to attach a certificate stating they have no outstanding dues when submitting their forms. However, since the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is currently not being issued without clearing the PMC's arrears, a sense of unease has spread among the aspiring candidates.
Prasad Shingate, Chief Officer, Fursungi-Uruli Devachi Municipal Council, commented: "When any institution is transferred, its movable and immovable assets, along with debts and arrears, are also transferred as per the rules. That is why the Pune Municipal Corporation's outstanding dues are being added to the Municipal Council's bills. Regarding the residents' opposition to paying the PMC arrears, appropriate legal decisions will be taken after seeking guidance from senior authorities."
000
