Chandigarh: The Punjab taxation dept has attached 136 properties worth over Rs 91 crore as part of a drive to recover pending pre-GST arrears, said finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema.“The state govt offered a highly one-time settlement policy to help traders clear legacy dues, and strong enforcement measures are being carried out against persistent defaulters. However, wilful tax evasion will not be tolerated,” said Cheema.
He said, “The attachment of 136 properties will send a message that the taxation department is relentlessly pursuing major defaulters. I urge all traders concerned to immediately avail the benefits of the policy to resolve their pending dues and save their properties from imminent auction.”The dept attached a total of 136 properties valued at Rs 91.1 crore across various jurisdictions. This encompassed 78 properties worth Rs 50.5 crore located within the primary districts, alongside another 58 properties valued at Rs 40.5 crore situated in other districts, states, or union territories. Additionally, some properties were already auctioned, resulting in a recovery of Rs 15.2 crore.Cheema said permission has been given to sell 35 properties worth Rs 33.7 crore. Of these approved cases, final auction dates were set for 21 properties valued at Rs 13.6 crore. District authorities themselves undertook auction proceedings for an additional 15 properties worth Rs 16.4 crore, with formal permission for sale currently in process.“To ensure comprehensive cross-jurisdictional recovery, recovery certificates were issued and are actively pending at the level of concerned Deputy Commissioners for 24 properties amounting to Rs 10.61 crore. The mounting pressure from these enforcement actions is yielding tangible results, as several licensees and sureties actively began depositing their arrear amounts to halt the impending auction of their assets,” he said.
