Karnal MC collects Rs 11.73-cr property tax against target of Rs 25-cr for 2024-25
The Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) has collected Rs 11.73 crore as property tax for the financial year 2024-25, while the total demand was Rs 25 crore. In the last three days of the financial year, the corporation managed to collect approximately Rs 73 lakh in property tax.
Compared to previous years, the collection has significantly declined. In the 2023-24 financial year, the municipal corporation had collected Rs 22.5 crore, whereas in 2022-23, the total collection was Rs 34 crore.
Sources attribute this decline to the enforcement of the model code of conduct due to three back-to-back elections—Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and Karnal Municipal Corporation elections. Additionally, no major relief was provided by the government on interest waivers after September 30, which further impacted tax payments.
Giving details, Dr Vaishali Sharma, Commissioner, KMC, said that despite weekend holidays on March 30 and 31, the KMC kept all windows at the Citizen Facilitation Centre(CFC) open to allow the residents to pay their dues. “On March 29 (Saturday), Rs 32.5 lakh was collected, followed by Rs 6 lakh on March 30 (Sunday) and Rs 34 lakh on March 31 (Monday),” she said.
Sharma said several government departments contributed significantly to the property tax collection. The Public Health Engineering Department paid Rs 78 lakh, while the Karnal Co-operative Sugar Mill Office deposited Rs 61 lakh. The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) paid Rs 31 lakh, and the Fisheries Department contributed Rs 22 lakh. Other payments included Rs 11.50 lakh from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Rs 11 lakh from the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department, and Rs 3 lakh from Haryana Roadways Karnal Depot and others.
Sharma also highlighted that several government agencies still had dues. The Haryana Police Academy owes Rs 8.14 crore, while the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has Rs 72.53 lakh in outstanding payments. The Women and Child Development Department owes Rs 48.38 lakh, the Police Department has Rs 45 lakh pending, and the Gymkhana Club has Rs 34 lakh in dues. The Public Works Department (B&R) owes Rs 79 lakh, the Irrigation Department has outstanding dues of Rs 2.91 crore, HVPNL owes Rs 15 lakh, and the Forest Department has pending dues of Rs 65 lakh.
The Commissioner urged all defaulters to clear their property tax dues at the earliest to avoid penalties. She further said that notices for attachment of properties had already been issued. “If the dues are not paid, the corporation will initiate auction proceedings against defaulters,” she said.
"Strict action will be taken to improve tax recovery and ensure compliance," Sharma said.
