With frequent police restrictions posed on its agitations against alleged violations of rules by education institutes in the city, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has now found an alternative way to take on institutes.

MNS corporator Kishore Shinde urged the civic administration to furnish the details of private schools and colleges that have defaulted tax and the action initiated against them.

“It was revealed that the pending property tax dues with schools and colleges are Rs 58.81 lakh and the defaulters include many of the prominent institutes,” Shinde said adding he would urge the civic administration to initiate strict action against the defaulters.

According to him, even the civic administration serve notice to the public for defaulting property tax and even attach their property. No such action of such kind has been ever taken against the institutes, he said.

When contacted, PMC Tax Assessment and Collection Officer Vilas Kanade said the civic administration has been serving notices and warrants against all defaulters, including educational institutions.

“I have already asked the officers concerned to identify the major defaulting education institutes and settle the matter if there is any dispute on property tax,” he said.

Kanade said, “It has also been decided to take a special drive to recover the pending dues from the education institutes after the MNS corporator pointed out the issue. More powers would be delegated to ward officers for the purpose.”

However, Shinde said many educational institutions were not following government rules while taking benefit of various government schemes.

With the police frequently putting restrictions on the MNS, it was decided as a strategy to use the powers vested in the elected representatives for the purpose, he said.

The common people have to pay tax and it is wrong if private education institute do not pay their taxes, Shinde said.