35cr property tax notice to Ulhas firm over irregularities

Ulhasnagar: Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has ordered a private company to pay property tax arrears of nearly Rs 35 crore after a probe panel found that its taxable area was undervalued by over 70% in the last six years.UMC chief Manisha Awhale has ordered an inquiry into civic officials' roles and halted the payment of the firm that made the assessment. The probe committee was formed following allegations by district BJP president Rajesh Vadhrya of undue large-scale tax concessions. As per the panel's findings, a private firm appointed by UMC, Kolbro Company, recorded 23,15,402sqm as the taxable area of Century Rayon, a major industrial unit that has over 5,000 employees, in the last six years. A fresh survey conducted by another private agency pegged it at 78,44,751sqm. Srikant Gore, vice-president, HR, Century Rayon, said the company had settled its tax dues. "The tax department conducted another survey without our consent. The fresh demand notice is incorrect. We have challenged it in court."