The Taxpayers Association on Monday criticised the move of the
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to collect property tax annually
terming it an unlawful act.

Speaking to the media persons,
association secretary M.V. Anjaneyulu said as per Section 264 of the
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act 1955, a corporation can
collect tax either for three or six months. “Even the council has no
right to collect annually and it is surprising that a Commissioner is
initiating a move on tax collection for one year which is unlawful.” He
said even the 2% interest on delayed payment was not within the ambit of
law. The statement that the corporation would stop essential services
such as drinking water, drainage and other services was nothing but
coercion and harassment.

He
said it was sad the corporation was not taking interest in collecting
the ever-increasing defaults including by legislators, parliamentarians
and other influential persons. “The civic body should use these
stringent Sections of the law against defaulters, not against the
citizens. Because of the inaction of the officers, the corporation is
pushed to financial hardship,” he said. He said even the State and the
Central government units such as the Railways, the State Guest House,
the Police Department, trusts and several religious institutions were
not paying tax regularly and no action was taken against them.