Pune: In response to citizen criticism over the discontinuation of a 40 per cent property tax rebate, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a door-to-door campaign to collect PT-3 application forms, aiming to reintroduce the rebate. However, the initiative is facing significant hurdles as many residents are not cooperating with municipal employees.

The PMC had provided a 40 per cent rebate on property tax since 1970. This was revoked in 2019 following a state government audit, resulting in full tax collection from then onwards.

Residents with multiple properties, new property buyers post-2019, and residents of 34 newly incorporated villages were affected. Although the rebate has been reinstated, approximately 375,000 eligible citizens have yet to apply.

To expedite the process, the PMC launched a campaign from June 24 to August 15, deploying 375 employees to gather PT-3 forms from citizens’ homes. Despite these efforts, progress has been slow, with only 45,000 properties surveyed so far.

PMC Deputy Commissioner Madhav Jagtap reviewed the situation, noting that employees have been frequently denied access to societies, faced locked doors, or received no response from residents.

“We are actively visiting the homes of property owners who haven’t received the 40 per cent rebate, and have collected 45,000 applications so far. However, many of our employees are encountering obstacles such as being denied entry into societies, being asked for official letters, or finding residents unresponsive,” Jagtap said.

Jagtap urged citizens to cooperate with the survey, stressing that this opportunity may not come again. He warned that property owners who do not assist municipal employees in filling out the PT-3 form will forfeit the 40 per cent rebate.

Employees have been instructed to document non-cooperation incidents, inform neighbors, and submit a report. Citizens are encouraged to assist in the survey process to ensure they benefit from the rebate.