HYDERABAD: Taking a decisive step to rein in major property tax defaulters, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Monday sealed Katriya Hotel and Towers in Somajiguda over pending dues amounting to Rs 6.16 crore.
The establishment has reportedly defaulted on property tax payments since 2017.
According to a GHMC official, special warrant teams constituted specifically for enforcement were dispatched to the premises to carry out the sealing. The property will remain sealed until the outstanding amount is fully cleared. Officials noted that the hotel is required to pay approximately Rs 75 lakh annually in property tax. “Even with the ongoing 90% waiver on interest, dues have reached Rs 6.16 crore. Without the rebate, liabilities would exceed Rs 7 crore,” the official said.
In addition to the hotel, five other properties were sealed for non-payment of taxes: Aurora College in Nampally, with dues of Rs 1.28 cr, Swarna Transport in Goshamahal, with dues of Rs 36 lakh, Shameem Sultana Cloth Mall, which owes Rs 35.27 lakh, Sony Centre in Goshamahal (Rs 39.6 lakh) and Synfosys Business solutions in Nagarjuna Circle (Rs 17.9 lakh dues).
Describing the move as part of a broader enforcement drive, GHMC commissioner R V Karnan stated stringent action would continue against top defaulters. “We issued multiple notices, but there was no response from the parties concerned, making such action unavoidable. This drive will continue over the next week,” he told TOI.
At the circle level, dedicated warrant officers have been deployed, with enforcement proceedings being carried out under the Revenue Recovery Act following the issuance of distress warrants to defaulters. Deputy commissioners across all 30 circles have been instructed to initiate strict measures against those failing to clear dues.
Over the past three weeks, civic bodies including GHMC, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC), and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) have collectively served nearly two lakh demand notices to property owners with outstanding payments.
Out of approximately 28.8 lakh property tax assessments in the city, nearly half have not cleared dues for the current financial year. Against a total demand of Rs 6,387 crore for FY 2025-26, including arrears, GHMC, along with CMC and MMC, has so far collected around Rs 2,200 crore.
The commissioner has urged citizens to clear pending dues promptly and make use of the ongoing 90% rebate on interest, while warning that continued non-compliance will invite strict legal action under the provisions of the GHMC Act.
