Nirmala Sitharaman Slams Govt Apathy After Tax Dept's 50-Year Land Struggle In Mumbai

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has criticised the laidback attitude of government departments after highlighting the Income Tax Department’s five-decade struggle over its own land in Mumbai. The department had secured a prime plot at Nariman Point in 1973, but the unattended property was illegally occupied, triggering years of bureaucratic delays before it could be reclaimed and developed. Speaking at the inauguration of Aaykar Sindhu, a 13-storey office complex spread across 1.13 lakh square feet, Sitharaman said the episode reflected serious administrative apathy. She urged tax officials to use this experience to understand the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens dealing with government authorities. The Finance Minister clarified that officials should not compromise rules or offer unlawful concessions. Instead, she called for faster decisions, fewer artificial hurdles and a more responsive approach so taxpayers are not forced to run from pillar to post for routine work across the country every single day.