Gurgaon: Days after department of town and country planning (DTCP) launched a crackdown on unauthorised paying guests (PGs) and guesthouses operating from residential properties in the city, MCM will recover property tax from such establishments.“If they fail to clear the dues, the buildings will be sealed immediately,” MCM commissioner Pradeep Singh said on Thursday.He added that a survey of areas where PGs are proliferating should be conducted within 15 days by MCM officials. From residential buildings where PGs, guesthouses, hotels, hostels or other commercial activities are being carried out, tax should be recovered from these buildings as per norms applying to commercial buildings.The corporation has identified its top 100 defaulters, who together owe Rs 229 crore. Singh directed the tax department to step up recovery efforts against the municipality’s largest property tax defaulters. Officials have been instructed to expedite recovery and seal properties if owners fail to clear their outstanding tax.According to the MCM, nearly 1.8 lakh properties are registered within its jurisdiction. Property tax is the civic body’s primary source of revenue and improving collections is “critical” to financing civic infrastructure and development works, officials said.He appealed to the residents to deposit their property tax on time, saying better compliance would enable the corporation to undertake more infrastructure and civic projects across Manesar.Meanwhile, the horticulture branch has been directed to restore ponds and identify more natural low-lying areas where rainwater can be stored. Singh also ordered an increase in rainwater harvesting pits to improve groundwater recharge and strengthen the region’s long-term water security.
