The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed an amendment to the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act, 1949, so that double property tax can be imposed on owners who fail to inform the civic body about completion of a building.

In a proposal tabled before the civic law committee, municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade has said that as per the BPMC Act, the corporation should be informed about new constructions or changes made in existing buildings (addition or reduction of size), so that property tax can be charged.

The civic administration has proposed an amendment, stating that if the owner of any such property fails to inform the corporation within 15 days of completion, the corporation should be authorised to charge property tax with double rates.

However, political parties are unhappy with the proposal. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Congress leader in the PMC Aba Bagul said, "The PMC is already charging double property tax from owners who have not sought a completion certificate. Now the PMC wants to legalise its illegal action and collect double property tax."

The civic administration has admitted that most of the 6,60,000 identified/assessed properties in the city have not obtained occupancy (completion) certificates and that the PMC will soon launch a drive to check for the document.

Zagade has already admitted that most developers/builders or people who submit building plans do not seek an occupancy certificate from the building permission department. The document is denied to a builder if he fails to adhere to the PMC norms. "Many builders/developers are selling their buildings/flats without this document," he said.