Lucknow Municipal Corporation Cracks Down on Tax Defaulters
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) launched a significant enforcement drive on Monday, targeting major defaulters of property and house tax across the city. In a decisive move, civic authorities sealed seven government establishments in zones 2 and 4, citing substantial unpaid dues that had accumulated despite multiple warnings.
Substantial Arrears Lead to Sealing in Zone 4
In zone 4, the LMC's enforcement teams sealed three government-sector buildings after officials discovered significant tax arrears. According to municipal records, these three establishments collectively owe over Rs 1.5 crore in pending property tax.
Shilpa Kumari, the zonal officer for zone 4, explained that the institutions had been served several notices urging them to clear their outstanding dues, but no payments were forthcoming. "The civic body initiated sealing proceedings strictly in accordance with municipal rules after exhausting all other options," Kumari stated.
Officials detailed that the enforcement team visited the sites, completed all required formalities, and officially sealed the premises to compel compliance with tax obligations.
Parallel Action in Zone 2 Targets Major Defaulters
In a separate but simultaneous operation in zone 2, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation sealed four additional government establishments for similar tax defaults. Two offices located near Raja Bazar were sealed for pending property tax amounting to nearly Rs 1 crore.
Another government establishment in the Talkatora area faced sealing after authorities identified arrears of approximately Rs 94.04 lakh. The cumulative tax dues from the four sealed properties in zone 2 exceed Rs 1.94 crore, bringing the total recovery target from both zones to over Rs 3.44 crore.
The enforcement drive in zone 2 was conducted under the direct supervision of Sanjay Yadav, the zonal officer, with support from tax superintendent Om Prakash Soni and revenue inspector Namita Singh.
Municipal Corporation's Stance on Tax Compliance
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has emphasized that this sealing drive represents part of a broader effort to ensure tax compliance among all property owners, including government entities. Officials noted that repeated notices and warnings were issued to the defaulting establishments before resorting to sealing actions.
"This enforcement action sends a clear message that tax obligations must be taken seriously by all, regardless of their institutional status," an LMC spokesperson commented. The corporation plans to continue similar drives across other zones to recover pending taxes and maintain municipal revenue streams essential for city development projects.
The sealed establishments will remain inaccessible until the outstanding tax amounts are fully cleared, with officials indicating that legal proceedings may follow if payments continue to be delayed.
