The
CDMA dashed off letters to the commissioners of the municipal
corporations of Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Guntur, Anantapuram,
Warangal and Hyderabad. He asked them to expedite collection of the
property tax dues from the central and state governments.

The cumulative dues of tax on government buildings in the the above-said cities are to the tune of Rs 188.76 crore.

The
urban local bodies (ULBs) have been able to collect property tax dues
successfully from house-owners through various means and the CDMA wants
the same strategy to be adopted for government properties as well in
collecting the property tax dues.

The CDMA reminded the municipal
commissioners that property tax was the main source of income to
municipalities and corporations, and the money is spent for the overall
development of the city or town concerned by the local body.

The
dues from the central and state governments’ properties to the municipal
corporations are Visakhapatnam (Rs 27.19 crore), Rajahmundry (Rs 47.50
crore), Guntur (Rs 29.04 crore, Anantapuram (Rs 44.06 crore), Warangal
(Rs 25.52 crore) and Hyderabad (Rs 15.42 crore). The total dues are more
than Rs 188.76 crore.

The CDMA has issued instructions to the
municipal commissioners to take personal attention and ensure that the
dues were collected at the earliest.

Letters should be addressed
to the departments concerned frequently and a few officers in the cadres
of rewvenue officer, town planning officers be entrusted with the task
of collecting the dues.

If there is a lack of coordination between
the ULBs and the departments concerned on recovering the huge property
tax dues, the municipal commissioner should inform the district
collectors concerned through letters.