The Bhilai Municipal Corporation has issued a notice to the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) for property tax arrears, demanding ₹228 crore. The BSP has been given a 30-day deadline to remit the payment. The corporation is also planning a drone survey of the BSP’s properties, including the township and plant premises.
The Bhilai Municipal Corporation has notified the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) to pay ₹228 crore as property tax for the fiscal year 2024-25. The corporation has provided a 30-day timeframe for the payment. However, the tax has not been paid by BSP so far. Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Pandey stated that a comprehensive survey of BSP properties will be carried out, with a proposal for a drone survey by IIT Bhilai. Other agencies were also considered, but discussions with IIT are in the final stages.
The BSP management has accumulated a 6000-page document under the Right to Information (RTI) to support their case in this property tax dispute. Both parties are making every effort to strengthen their positions through mutual accusations.
The corporation alleges that BSP has concealed commercial properties such as hospitals, schools, and parks. The corporation claims that BSP’s affidavit did not include hospitals, schools, parks, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB quarters, and religious and social buildings. The corporation accuses BSP of generating income by charging fees from private patients at these hospitals and renting out school buildings. The corporation asserts that taxes are applicable on such properties, but BSP has not paid.
Despite multiple meetings between the corporation administration and BSP management, no resolution has been reached regarding the property tax. The old tax dispute remains pending in the High Court, and now a new notice has been served.