Karnal, July 29: The Municipal Corporation has intensified its efforts to achieve its record property tax collection target. The Property Tax Branch is issuing notices to major defaulters in a phased manner to ensure the recovery of the maximum amount of outstanding tax. Municipal Commissioner Saloni Sharma stated that a special 75% waiver on interest for outstanding property tax, offered by the Haryana Government, remains in effect until August 31. She has appealed to all defaulters to take advantage of this opportunity and deposit their outstanding taxes on time. 
She explained that in the first phase, notices have already been issued to the majority of institutions and departments with property tax arrears exceeding ?1 crore. Simultaneously, in the second phase, notices are being issued to defaulters with outstanding amounts ranging from ?50 lakh to ?1 crore. Notices will be delivered to all defaulters in this category within the coming week. 
The Municipal Commissioner stated that the Municipal Corporation's objective is to maximize property tax collection by August 31. To this end, officials and staff of the Property Tax Branch are working with great seriousness and proactivity. Each major defaulter is being monitored, and continuous action is underway to ensure payment within the stipulated timeframe. 
She clarified that if defaulters fail to deposit their property tax during August, the Municipal Corporation will take strict action against them starting in September. Measures such as sealing and attachment of the properties of such defaulters will be implemented in accordance with the rules. She urged all defaulters to deposit their outstanding taxes within the prescribed time to avoid any inconvenience later.
Arrears in the form of service charges owed by Central Government departments and institutions.
The Municipal Commissioner noted that substantial amounts are outstanding as service charges from various Central Government departments and institutions. Outstanding service charges include ?132 crore against the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), ?24.53 crore against the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ?1.03 crore against the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), ?97 lakh against Northern Railway, and ?77 lakh against the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
Property tax worth crores of rupees is also outstanding against state government departments.
He stated that substantial amounts of property tax are pending against various state government departments and institutions. Outstanding property tax dues include ?3.47 crore against the Irrigation Department, ?2.45 crore against SD Girls Senior Secondary School, ?2.09 crore against the Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads), ?1.72 crore against the Haryana Armed Police (Madhuban), ?1.06 crore against the Public Health Engineering Department, ?83.18 lakh against the District Sports Department, ?56 lakh against the District Women and Child Development Department, ?44.07 lakh against the District Jail, ?21.72 lakh against the Superintendent of Police's office, and ?19.86 lakh against Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University. Additionally, property tax amounting to ?2.30 crore is outstanding against the Digambar Jain Society.