Mumbai: Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) aims to exceed its property tax collection target for the year, having collected Rs 235 crore ($33 million) as of mid-September. The civic body has been working on plans to recover outstanding debts and bring new assets into the tax net.

Employees have been warned about possible administrative measures in advance. The NMMC is making every effort to ensure that it not only meets its property tax collection target for the financial year but actually exceeds it.

The civic body has collected Rs 235 cr till mid-September. It has set a target of Rs 800 cr this financial year, so it has chalked out special plans to recover arrears where employees are required to spend two days and one day on the registration process.

Property tax is the main source of taxes for the civic body which it uses for various civic works and services. Hence, Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar has repeatedly emphasized on optimal rehabilitation. Additional Municipal Commissioner Sujata Dhole, who heads the property tax department, held a special meeting with officials and staff of the department earlier this week.

She designated targets by area and ordered quick action. Dhole said, “I have made it very clear to all that as per the commissioner’s instructions, administrative action will be taken against those found negligent in their work.”

She said: “I will personally conduct weekly assessments of each employee’s work compared to the set goals. We explained to them the importance of their role in the development of the city.”

According to the additional commissioner, “a list of defaulters has been prepared by the department, with priority being collected from major defaulters in the initial stages.”