ZIRAKPUR, Aigust 1: — On the final day of the Punjab government’s one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, the Zirakpur Municipal Council collected an unprecedented ₹12.25 crore in property tax payments, surpassing all other municipal bodies in the district, officials confirmed.
The OTS scheme, which ran from July 1 to 31, offered property owners a chance to clear their dues by paying only the principal amount, with complete waivers on accrued interest and penalties. Designed to provide financial relief to citizens while boosting civic revenues, the scheme drew a particularly strong response in Zirakpur.
“We saw daily footfalls of 200 to 250 property owners throughout the month. The response from residents was highly encouraging, especially on the final day. We expect the final tally to rise further as more payments are processed,” said a senior official from the municipal council.
According to officials, the footfall and total collections in Zirakpur outpaced those in other councils and municipal corporations in the district, reflecting a sharp uptick in compliance.
Executive Officer Jagjit Singh Judge credited the Punjab government for launching the scheme and said the financial position of the council had improved significantly as a result.
“This initiative gave people a much-needed opportunity to settle their dues without additional burdens. It also helped the council recover a huge chunk of pending revenue,” Judge said.
However, he added that the grace period was now over. “Those who failed to pay under the OTS scheme will now face legal action. We have already begun identifying defaulters,” he warned.
The council’s success under the scheme has bolstered calls for more citizen-friendly financial recovery measures, especially in areas with high volumes of pending municipal dues.
