The Hindu 10.04.2013
Bug that affects both GVMC and taxpayer
But for it, the water tax collection could have been higher.
The GVMC is quite particular about launching a drive to
realise property tax dues, as the financial year draws to an end.
Property tax is one of the main sources of revenue. Along with property
tax, water tax is also collected.
During the
March-end rush, a taxpayer was flummoxed when he was told at a private
bank that there was no water tax due payable by him. “The computer is
not showing any tax against the assessment number given by you. You can
pay it when the corporation asks for it,” the bank staff told him. There
was no way the tax can be paid, as unless the demand is shown, receipt
can’t be generated. Neither the taxpayer is alone in going through the
strange experience, nor is the revenue-delaying glitch new to the
corporation.
A few years ago, when N. Srikant was
Commissioner, a Water Supply official had faced a similar problem. He
had taken it to the notice of the Commissioner, who asked the IT wing to
look into it. It took nearly two years for the department to get back
to the official, who had to pay Rs.6,200 in one go. But not everyone may
be prepared to pay cumulative bills at a time. More importantly, things
have not changed much since then and the bug continues to bother both
the GVMC as well as the taxpayer. The only solace one can draw is that
no interest is levied on arrears of water bills.
The
corporation’s total demand from 1.49 lakh household supply connections
is Rs.16.53 crore, of which by the end of March Rs.13.52 crore was
collected. The connections include 2,830 semi-bulk connections for
apartments.
They account for Rs.5.32 crore and Rs.4.93 crore was paid.
“This
is normal as about 81 per cent of the demand is collected,” said an
official of the Water Supply wing of the GVMC. But the collection could
have been higher if the software glitch is rectified.
When contacted, Superintendent Engineer (Water Supply) V. Chandraiah said the glitch had affected several taxpayers.
The
Water Supply office at Town Service Reservoir had the wherewithal to
rectify it and taxpayers may get it done there, he said.
