House Sealing Reports Baseless, Certificate Case To Be Lodged Against Big Holding Tax Defaulters: BMC

Bhubaneswar: Clarifying on the directive issued by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) regarding sealing of houses of the holding tax defaulters, deputy commissioner (Revenue) of the civic body, Srimant Mishra on Sunday said that the tax pending more than three years attracts action known as certificate case as per OPDR (The Orissa Public Demands Recovery) Act.

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Mishra's clarification comes hours after reports published in different media that houses and shops would be sealed in case of non-payment of holding tax. He said that actions were initiated only in the case of heavy pending amount.

Generally individual house owners are not included in OPDR Act. Commercial establishments and other big institutions in the city would face certificate case if they have not cleared the tax for three years or above. Action in OPDR Act is a routine affair, informed Mishra.

All zonal deputy commissioners of BMC have been directed to initiate action against such defaulters, he added while pointing out that reports regarding sealing of houses of the tax defaulters are baseless.

"Ward officers are directed to share information regarding tax defaulters every year which is a routine affair," he said.