Indian Express 4.11.2009

Slowdown did not hurt PCMC octroi collection, reveals figures

We are looking forward to a major turnaround in next 6 months: Sharma

If recently released figures are to be believed , the octroi earnings of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has not nosedived due to economic meltdown as widely believed. Month-wise there has been an increase and in year-to-year comparison, the gap is closing in. In fact, auto majors like Tata Motors have contributed as much to octroi revenue as they did last year.

Compared to early last year when the economy was on a high, the figures this fiscal tell a story of the bad time slowly but surely making way to the good. In April 2008, the PCMC had earned octroi revenue of Rs 70 crore. This fiscal in April, the PCMC could rake in only Rs 42 crore, suffering a loss of over nearly 28 crore. Similarly in May last year, the octroi revenue stood at Rs 70 crore and this May, it reached Rs 45 crore -- an increase of Rs 3 crore compared to April.

In June 2008, PCMC secured octroi revenue of Rs 65 crore and in June 2009 the figure was Rs 47 crore -- an increase of Rs two crore compared to May. In July last year, octroi income was pegged at Rs 57 crore and this fiscal in July, it was Rs 52 crore -- an increase of Rs five crore compared to June. In August, PCMC notched up Rs 65 crore and this financial year, the octroi figure stands Rs 55 crore -- again an increase of Rs three crore compared the previous month

In September last year, PCMC earned Rs 62 crore through octroi and this fiscal it received Rs 55 crore. In October last year, octroi earned was Rs 58 crore and this year, it is Rs 55 crore. The figures indicate that there was not much difference between what was earned last and this October.

The earning from the industrial sector, which was supposedly hit hard by the slowdown, has remained constant in last three months. In October this year, industries contributed Rs 24 crore as octroi revenue, in September Rs 23 crore and in August Rs 24 crore. The collective loss as compared to last year has been around Rs 41 crore. But the earnings from auto sector, led by Tata Motors, have remained more or less the same. Tata Motors last fiscal in September contributed just over Rs 15 crore and the figure is almost similar this fiscal. Another industrial major K S B Pumps paid an octroi of Rs 54 lakh this year while last year it paid Rs 56 lakh.

Official said the figures clearly indicate that though in comparison to last fiscal, the octroi earnings have dipped, in reality every month there is a rise in octroi revenue. "The gap has been closing in rapidly and we hope to do well in next few months as well," said assistant municipal commissioner Ashok Munde, who heads the octroi department.

Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said from Rs 42 crore in April to Rs 58 crore in October, the figures show things have improved. "But we are looking forward for a major turnaround in next six months. This year, January, February and March were very bad months," he said. Sharma said the PCMC has gained through collections at octroi posts. Munde said there has been an increase of Rs 12 crore in naka collections compared to last fiscal. "Auto sector has seen a revival, but it is not much," the civic chief said.