Deccan Chronicle 26.01.2010

Tax defaulters to get alerts via SMS

Hyderabad, Jan. 25: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will send alerts and warnings to tax defaulters via SMS, said Mr S.K. Sharma, special commissioner, GHMC.

“We are planning to computerise the tax collection system along with other departments like public lighting and issuance of documents,” he said.

Mr Sharma said, till now, the corporation could only collect 50 per cent of the outstanding tax due to lengthy procedures.

“The GHMC has roped in Wipro and other small software firms to develop a system that will turn off all street lights in Hyderabad in the morning,” Mr Sharma said. He added that the GHMC expects to save Rs 6 crore every month by the new system.

Mr Sharma said that the civic body plans to start a Rs 70-crore urban housing project in Hyderabad and several citizen service centres.