The Hindu 02.07.2013
Corporation sets targets for tax collection wing
The adverse remarks made by the Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) on tax collection by the City Corporation has prompted
authorities to streamline functioning of the tax wing of the civic body
and set monthly targets for bill collectors at the ward level. The CAG
in its audit report on the Local self-government institutions for the
year ending March 2012 had found that even after seven years the civic
body had not made mandatory reforms for increasing the property tax
collection to 85 per cent of the projected demand as part of the norms
set for implementing the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission.
The standing committee for Finance, which
met last week, decided to hold tax review meetings on the second Friday
of every month and also decided to set monthly targets for bill
collectors. Deputy Mayor Happy Kumar, who is also chairman of the
standing committee for Finance, told
The Hindu
, that henceforth it was decided to hold monthly meetings of revenue
inspectors to review collection of property tax. “Probably we will hold
the meeting on the second Friday of every month,” he said.
The
Corporation also plans to fix accountability to even junior level
officers in the revenue wing and in this regard a resolution would be
moved to get the council’s approval. The Corporation had projected a
demand of Rs. 60 crore as property tax in the current budget. A survey
would be conducted to assess buildings, unaided educational institutions
to prevent tax evasion, he said.
