The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has finally decided to take more stringent steps following the failure of personal requests and public hoardings to make tax defaulters clear their property dues.

The civic body has resorted to steps like sealing of private buildings and cutting down on basic amenities in public utility buildings.

Big players, whose tax dues run in several lakhs and over Rs 1 crore in some cases, have been targeted by the RMC at the end of the financial year to meet its targets for the fiscal current year.

The corporation has collected Rs 75 crore so far, against the target of Rs 84 crore. Wockhardt Hospital, with dues over Rs 1 crore, has been put under further pressure.

The RMC issued a notice to the hospital on Thursday, giving it an ultimatum to either clear its dues within a week or face a cut in the water supply.

Two BSNL offices located at Lohananagar and Marketing Yard have also come under the scanner.

RMC officials said that one of the actions would be playing drums outside the premises of the defaulters till the time they don't pay their dues.

According to top RMC officials, commissioner Dinesh Bhrahmbatt had earlier called the defaulters in person to discuss the issue. A meeting was held where the defaulters had promised to pay up the dues soon.

Taking a stronger stand, the civic body has seized two properties of Congress leader Suleman Sandhar, who has dues of over Rs 7 lakh for the two properties. Similarly, Gamara Hotel and Laser Cinema have been sealed in the central zone.