House Photo Will Not Be Required for Property Tax Payment: Mohali Mayor
Mohali, March 27: In a move aimed at boosting property tax collections and addressing resident concerns, Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu has indicated that the municipal corporation will soon withdraw the requirement of submitting front and back photographs of houses for property tax payment. The decision comes after councillors highlighted that the clause was discouraging residents from paying their taxes.
The issue came to the fore during a recent MC House meeting, where councillors raised concerns that many residents were reluctant to pay property tax due to the photo submission requirement.
Resident Concerns and the Photo Clause
According to councillors, several homeowners have carried out constructions in their backyards and are awaiting approval under the need-based changes policy. These residents fear that submitting photographs of their properties could invite violation notices from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) .
This fear has led to a decline in property tax compliance, with many residents choosing to delay or avoid payment altogether to avoid potential scrutiny.
Mayor's Response and Rollback
Acknowledging the concern, Mayor Sidhu stated that the condition has inadvertently led to a decline in property tax collection.
"We have sensed the problem, and I will soon issue directions to roll back the practice of asking for photographs of houses. We have also learnt that people, out of fear, are not depositing property tax, which is causing significant revenue loss to the MC," Sidhu said.
The rollback is expected to be implemented shortly through official directives from the mayor's office.
Property Tax Collection Deficit
Official records reveal that the MC had set a target of 55 crore for property tax collection in the 2025-26 financial year. However, the corporation has so far collected 46.88 crore, falling short by 8.12 crore—approximately a 15 per cent deficit.
Councillor and former deputy mayor Manjit Singh Sethi strongly raised the issue during the meeting, stressing the need for accountability.
"Property tax is one of the primary sources of income for the MC. A deficit of around 15 per cent is a serious concern and must be thoroughly examined," Sethi said, urging the administration to fix responsibility on officials for the shortfall.
Other Decisions at the MC House Meeting
The MC House meeting also approved several other significant proposals aimed at strengthening civic services:
Sanitation Staff Expansion
With the expansion of municipal limits, the House approved:
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Recruitment of approximately 1,000 sanitation workers
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50 sewer men
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50 servants
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Additional supporting staff
The move aims to ensure efficient waste management and sewer maintenance as the city's jurisdiction grows.
Regularisation of Long-Serving Workers
A key decision was to regularise sanitation workers and sewer men who have been working on DC rates for more than three years. Councillors emphasized that these workers have been serving the civic body for years and deserve job security and benefits.
Mayor Sidhu noted the need to appoint senior-ranked officers as well, including SHOs, Junior Engineers, and even Superintending Engineers, to monitor the work of sanitation and supporting staff.
Employee Welfare Benefits
The House flagged concerns regarding employee welfare, noting that workers employed since 2014 were receiving EPF and ESI benefits until 2023, but these have since been discontinued. It was recommended that these benefits be restored with immediate effect.
Taxi Stand Reallocation
The MC resolved to reclaim taxi stands from allottees who have passed away and reallocate them through a fresh process to ensure proper utilisation of public assets.
Property Tax Instalment Scheme
To improve revenue collection, councillors proposed writing to the government to expand the property tax instalment scheme, making it easier for residents to pay dues in a phased manner.
Ward Expansion
In view of the expanding municipal limits, the House suggested increasing the number of wards from the existing structure to between 50 and 80 wards to ensure better representation and governance.
Outlook
The rollback of the house photo requirement is expected to provide significant relief to residents and encourage greater compliance with property tax payments. Combined with the proposed expansion of the instalment scheme, the MC aims to bridge the current revenue deficit and improve overall tax collection.
As the municipal limits continue to expand and the city grows, the decisions taken at the House meeting—including staff regularisation, recruitment, and ward expansion—are intended to align infrastructure and workforce capacity with Mohali's rapid development.