Tax heat on Spanish Garden

GMC to issue notice to property tax defaulters

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 9: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation has started cracking the whip on property tax defaulters. The ultra luxury residential apartment Spanish Garden, located at Zoo Road, was the first to face the heat as majority of its occupants had defaulted on property tax to the tune of over Rs 40 lakh.

On Thursday, a ruckus erupted at the entrance of the posh apartment after a team of GMC officials, who were on an inspection, were refused entry inside the complex.

The GMC team led by magistrate Udaiyaditya Gogoi had to call in police to break open the locks of the main gate. There was a verbal duel among the GMC officials and a section of occupants inside the complex for about 45 minutes.

 A case was also lodged by the deputy commissioner of police (east) at Dispur police station against the Spanish Garden authorities for “obstructing government officials on duty”. A case has been registered and police said action will be taken against the guilty.

A GMC official said an assessment is being done to find out the exact amount of property tax due.

“It should be around Rs 40 lakh. There are 180 flats in the complex of which only around 40 have paid their property taxes regularly,” the official said.

The GMC will be issuing individual notices from tomorrow. “We will give the occupants seven days time to clear their dues. In case there is any lapse, we may be forced to seal the complex,” the official added.

GMC sources said a number of establishments in the city have defaulted on property tax. BSNL tops the list with a default of Rs 1.42 crore, followed by Railways (Rs 1.07 crore), AG Office (Rs 22 lakh), Meghdoot Bhavan (Rs 20 lakh), FCI (Rs 18 lakh) and CPWD (Rs 1) lakh). Private schools, hospitals and other institutions are also in the list.