Pune: PMC staff deployed for BLO duties cannot return to their core duties yet due to an extension of the SIR process. According to civic officials, the manpower crunch has severely impacted water supply and property tax departments, delaying daily operations and assessments.“Many day-to-day works as well as the recovery of property tax have been impacted due to a manpower crunch. The assessment of new properties is delayed. We planned to streamline these works at the earliest, but our staff will not be available till Nov,” Ravi Pawar, head of PMC’s property tax department, said. The SIR’s draft roll will be out on Aug 31 and the final electoral roll will be declared on Nov 4.PMC has urged citizens to cooperate as operations in the property tax department have been disrupted after 200 employees were deployed for the voter drive. The department earlier issued a public statement urging taxpayers’ cooperation.Property tax contributes between 30% and 32% of PMC’s total revenue. The department is responsible for tax assessment, collection, property registration and arrears recovery.As per PMC officials, the absence of water supply department staff has impacted new water connections, projects to lay pipelines and pre-monsoon works. Along with regular water supply-related works, special projects like 24×7 water works were affected as staff members were not available.A total of 1,500 PMC staff members, including teachers, were part of SIR duties. According to the election department officials, the district administration assigned them field and office work, including home visits, cross-verification of data, finalisation of draft lists and clerical work.“The draft lists will be completed by this month. Some officials on deputation from other govt authorities will rejoin their original duties only when the process of hearing is over,” a senior election official said.
