Taloja: A major industrial storm is brewing in the Taloja MIDC area as hundreds of units have come together to protest what they are calling “unlawful and financially crippling” double taxation. The controversy stems from recent notices issued by the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC), demanding retrospective property tax payments dating from 2016 to 2024.
“Taloja MIDC, a state-notified industrial zone, was developed and is governed exclusively by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). For decades, industrial units set up in the region operated under the clear understanding—repeatedly assured through government industrial policies—that no municipal body would have jurisdiction or taxing authority within MIDC’s boundaries,” said Sandeep Dongare, Vice President of CETP Taloja.
However, that understanding has come under threat. For the first time, in 2024, PMC has issued tax notices to industries within the MIDC area, sparking widespread outrage among business owners and industry bodies.
“This is nothing short of jurisdictional overreach,” said one industry representative. “The very basis of our establishment in Taloja MIDC was that MIDC alone would govern and charge for services. Now, we’re being slapped with property tax bills for nearly a decade retroactively—without any legal mandate,” he added.
The situation has been further aggravated by reports of PMC recovery officials visiting industrial plot holders and issuing seizure warnings. According to affected businesses, this coercive approach is undermining investor confidence in Maharashtra as an industrial destination.
The dual levies—being charged separately by MIDC and now PMC—for essential civic services such as water, sewage, fire safety, and roads are resulting in what stakeholders describe as “double taxation.” Many companies, already battling inflation and global economic headwinds, say this additional burden could jeopardize their operations.
“This move undermines the very essence of the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives championed by our Prime Minister,” said Dongare. “Industries are now questioning the policy certainty and long-term viability of investing in Maharashtra.”
The industrial community has issued a strong appeal to the Maharashtra Government for urgent intervention. They are demanding that the state uphold its policy commitments and protect industries from what they describe as arbitrary taxation.
“Taloja MIDC industries have always played a vital role in Maharashtra’s economic fabric,” said another industry leader. “We are not against paying our dues—but only to the rightful authority, under legal and policy-defined frameworks. This kind of ambiguity and pressure threatens not just our profitability, but our very presence here.”
