Dr Mangesh Gondavale, Commissioner of Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC), reviewed the functioning of the Property Tax Department and directed officers to intensify tax collection efforts through effective planning to achieve the revenue targets for the current financial year. During the review meeting, Dr Gondavale assessed the status of property tax collection, ward wise progress towards targets, pending arrears, recovery from major defaulters, challenges in tax collection and measures to enhance municipal revenue. Stating that property tax is the primary source of revenue for the civic body, Dr Gondavale instructed all officers concerned to adopt a systematic and result-oriented approach to ensure timely achievement of collection targets. He directed every department to set daily and weekly recovery goals, monitor progress regularly and focus on clearing long pending dues within their respective jurisdictions.

 

Emphasising the need for a special drive against major defaulters, Dr Mangesh Gondavale instructed officers to conduct personal visits, issue notices, maintain regular follow-up and initiate action under the relevant provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act wherever necessary. He also directed the preparation of a separate list of long-pending defaulters so that recovery could be undertaken on a priority basis. To make tax payment more convenient for citizens, Dr Gondavale asked officers to promote online payment facilities, undertake awareness campaigns through various media and ensure prompt resolution of taxpayers' grievances.

 

He stressed the need to strengthen communication with citizens to encourage voluntary and timely payment of taxes. Officers of the Property Tax Department made presentations on ward wise collection, pending cases, comparative progress over the previous financial year, revenue enhancement strategies and operational challenges. Reviewing the performance of individual departments, Dr Mangesh Gondavale instructed officers to pay special attention to areas where progress had fallen short of expectations. The meeting also discussed updating property tax records, bringing newly constructed properties under the tax net, digitising property data and effectively utilising all available measures to improve municipal revenue. Dr Mangesh Gondavale appealed to officers and employees to work in close coordination to achieve the collection targets within the stipulated time.

 

He observed that higher revenue from property tax would enable the Corporation to accelerate development works related to civic infrastructure, sanitation, roads, water supply and other essential public services. Mahesh Deshmukh, Additional Commissioner, Bhagyashree Borekar, Deputy Commissioner, Shilpa Pawar, Chief Accounts Officer, Vaishali Gathe, Assistant Director (Town Planning), Nandkishor Tikhile, Bhushan Pusatkar, Nitin Bobde, Dhananjay Shinde and Manoj Shahale, all the Assistant Commissioners, Narmada Chavan and Pravin Thakre, Assistant Regional Officers, Ajay Bansele, Encroachment Squad Head, Harish Santosia and other municipal officers were present at the meeting.