India, Oct. 2 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has served a second and final notice to property tax defaulters in four wards, cautioning them that their properties will be auctioned if dues are not cleared within seven days. Eviction proceedings will follow, with a private auctioneer already appointed to oversee the rare enforcement measure-the first of its kind in nearly three decades.

Through the auctions, the civic body hopes to recover Rs.8.53 crore from the identified properties.

"We issue a 21-day notice first, followed by a seven-day notice. Once that period lapses, the auction takes place on an as-is-where-is basis, and titleship changes hands. The winning bidder becomes the new owner, and eviction is carried out ...