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Taxation

Panchkula MC to propose house tax abolition

Tuesday, 21 July 2009 12:43 administrator
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Times of India 21.07.2009
Panchkula MC to propose house tax abolition
PANCHKULA: Panchkula municipal council is to send a proposal for abolition of house tax in the town to the state government. A resolution in this regard was passed by the house in its meeting held here on Monday. The meeting was presided over by acting president BB Singhal.

In its first meeting attended by 31 councillors following president Ravinder Rawal’s removed by MC tribunal, the house also passed the resolution for substantial increase in honorarium of the councillor.

While house tax on self-occupied properties was abolished by the state last year, MC wanted to abolish it completely in the town on the lines of the adjoining city of Chandigarh.

Singhal said the resolution introduced by BJP councillors was passed and it is now at the state’s discretion to approve it. It would, however, not be an easy task for state government, as it would need an amendment in the MC Act. Alternative sources of income would be an issue.

Increase in the financial powers of the council has also to be sought, Singhal said. The municipal councils were empowered to spend Rs 3 lakh 20 years ago. Now, with the passage of time, requirements have increased manifold, hence the limit needs to be increased, Singhal said while introducing the agenda.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 12:46
 

PCMC may appoint armed guards at municipal properties

Monday, 20 July 2009 11:23 administrator
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Times of India 20.07.2009

PCMC may appoint armed guards at municipal properties

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is considering recruiting 41 armed guards in order to protect octroi posts, property tax offices and other municipal properties.

Speaking to TOI on Saturday, Anilkumar Dalvi, security officer, PCMC said that the civic administration is considering the step and other measures to beef up security at the municipal offices and other properties.

"We have nine armed guards as security guards. Three of them are deployed at the water purification plants in Nigdi during the night shift, one each is deployed at the vehicle repair workshop in Pimpri and the PCMC main building and three are deployed at octroi posts," said Dalvi.

He added that the new armed guards will be mostly deployed to secure the cash at 21 octroi posts and 15 property tax

offices of PCMC. We plan to fill 34 vacant posts of security inspectors who will supervise the security arrangements at various civic properties."

Speaking about the measures to be taken to beef up security at the PCMC main office building, Dalvi said, "An iron staircase installed for pedestrians to enter the main building premises from the highway has been removed as thieves use it to enter the premises to steal the batteries of vehicles parked there. A security guard has been deployed behind Annasaheb Magar statue to check trespassing over the compound wall along the Mumbai-Pune highway. Two security guards each have been deployed near both the gates and the back portion near the common boundary with PMT Tools."

He added that the civic administration was monitoring the movement of visitors in the main office building round the clock. The number of security guards has been increased at the entrance to the main building. Visitors are asked to note down their names, address and other details in the register.

Dalvi said, "We have 343 security guards on the PCMC staff and another 315 hired from contractors. There are 654 civic properties which include water works, playgrounds, schools and other buildings which need to be secure."

Earlier, the PCMC had taken several steps to increase security at its various offices and the main administrative building. Metal and letter bomb detectors, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other measures were taken at the main administrative building in Pimpri. But security lapses still occur. A vehicle was stolen from the PCMC main office premises on January 28. Thefts have also occurred at the divisional property tax offices at Charholi in January and at Bhosari in March.

Thefts have been reported at the property tax offices in Bhosari and Charholi. An armed robbery took place at the octroi post in Moshi where a civic employee was injured in May this year.

 

Paying house tax through your bank

Monday, 20 July 2009 09:58 administrator
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Times of India 20.07.2009

Paying house tax through your bank

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is frantically searching for its untapped sources of house tax, one of the most important sources of revenue for the fund starved municipal body.

A series of steps have already been initiated with an aim to recover the tax which residents often shirk from paying following the lack of civic amenities. "There are others who are simply evading the tax because of apathy or because of the hassles people face while depositing the house tax in any of the zonal office,'' said a senior municipal official.

Now, you might not have to slog anymore if the LMC's plans are anything to go by. To begin with, in a bid to make the process hassle-free, the LMC is all set to enter into an agreement with two nationalised banks through which one can deposit the house tax while sitting in house or office.

According to municipal commissioner, Shailesh Kumar Singh, they would soon enter into an agreement with the two banks -- State Bank of India (SBI) and Union Bank. All that one would need is to have an account in one of the two banks and the internet account activated.

The LMC has already entered into an agreement with the private sector Bank HDFC and the collection has started. "About Rs 25,000 has already been collected,'' said a senior LMC official associated with the house tax collection.

Officials said that they would also involve some private service providers for collection of the crucial tax which one pays in lieu of civic amenities which the municipal body provides.

This is not all. Singh said that they are in the process of changing the existing software which only allows deposition of the house tax in the zonal office only. But with the new software in the making, one would be able to deposit the house tax in any of the zonal office. "It would be transferred to the respective zonal office within 15 days,'' said the municipal commissioner. Municipal officials said that the counter would be established in the existing zonal offices only.
l Have an account in the associated bank

l Get your internet bank account enabled

l Get yourself registered on the LMC's web site -- www.lmc.up.nic.in -- for a user name and password

l Enter one's house ID

l The website gives you the option of the bank

l Complete the transaction and download the receipt
 
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