It's the early bird that gets the benefit from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). For those who promptly pay their property tax before June 30, the PMC has come up with a health insurance inclusive of coverage for accidents for property owners.

Announcing the scheme, Municipal Commissioner Nitin Kareer said, ''We want to encourage people to pay their property tax early.''

Incidentally, property tax is the highest revenue earner for the PMC, after octroi. The PMC has set a target of around Rs 300 crore for this year. Last year, the property tax department had collected over Rs 200 crores.

Two years ago, the PMC had announced concessions to those who pay their taxes early and comply with other pre-conditions like installing solar water heating system. ''Since this proposal has not been approved by the State government as yet because of the pre-conditions, we decided to launch the health insurance scheme,'' Kareer said.

A draft of the insurance scheme has been prepared in consultation with ICICI-Lombard, Oriental Insurance Company, National Insurance Company and New India Assurance Company.

The civic body will pay a premium of Rs 5 per week per property. The property owner will get an insurance cover for Rs 25,000 and the family will be covered for Rs 1 lakh.

The PMC will decide how to implement the scheme where properties are owned by more than one person. ''We are working out a scheme with the insurance companies for such owners,'' Kareer said.

(The Indian Express)