‘NMMC needs to wait for SC hearing in Oct before penalizing tax defaulters in TTC area’

NAVI MUMBAI: Owners of small scale industries along Thane-Belapur industrial corridor have reacted strongly against the notices issued by NMMC on action to be taken if they fail to pay outstanding dues like property tax and local body tax (LBT). The civic body notified that it will lodge criminal cases, freeze bank accounts and seal properties of defaulters unless they pay up .
The entrepreneurs claimed that levying taxes is a breach of the independent, notified area status of Trans Thane Creek (TTC) MIDC.
Small Scale Entrepreneurs Association (SSEA) representatives allege that they are being harassed by the civic body. “We are being taxed by both NMMC and MIDC. As the case is pending before the Supreme Court, NMMC should wait till the October hearing before slapping notices or initiating action,” said Paresh Mehta, secretary of SSEA.
However, NMMC is planning to take action against the tax defaulters soon.
Tukaram Mundhe, civic chief said, “NMMC is the nodal agency in the industrial corridor and industrial units are legally bound to pay the taxes. The defaulters will be penalized, as per rules. After freezing their accounts, we will go to the extent of auctioning their properties to recover dues.”
Refuting SSEA charges of poor infrastructure in the area, a civic official said that a huge amount was spent to provide civic facilities. Also, all internal and arterial roads from Uran Phata to Digha within the industrial pocket were concretized, he added. There are over 3,000 industries in Navi Mumbai.