Chennai: With property tax collection at only 80% last financial year, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has written to the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India (CERSAI), seeking directions to banks and financial institutions to factor in pending property tax dues while recovering loans from borrowers.It has also asked the agency to link property tax default with CIBIL and urge banks to deduct the money as well. GCC commissioner G S Sameeran said there are nearly 90 major defaulters who owe up to ₹27.3 crores. “We want a direction to banks to get the money through loan recovery. The property tax component does not come under loan liability. It requires an amendment to the rules. But if such a direction is given, GCC will get the money recovered,” he said.Against a total demand of ₹2,564 crore, GCC collected a record ₹2,043 crore during the year. To improve recovery, the civic body published online a list of 90 major property tax defaulters with pending second-half dues amounting to ₹27.31 crore. Out of the 90, GCC has collected tax from 17, locked the doors of 28, and seized 11.Sameeran said they recently sealed a property worth ₹70 crore for non-payment of dues. “We also do not have any interference or localised pressure to not act on any of the building deviations and violations. This is helping the officials to fast-track lock-and-seal action,” he said.
