The Hindu              29.05.2013

Online payment of holding tax from August 1

Staff Reporter

It is part of the government’s e-governance initiative.

The State government plans to introduce online payment of holding tax in three municipal corporations of the State from August 1.

Introduction of online payment is part of the government’s e-governance initiative. The current holding tax alone will be collected online and a decision on arrears would be taken after reconciliation with property holders.

“At present, the tax is being collected manually. We are facilitating online payment of holding tax as an alternative option for taxpayers,” said Sanjib Mishra, Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

Sources in the Housing and Urban Development Department said the online collection of holding tax might not evoke encouraging response initially. “As people get gradually used to technology, the initiative will gain popularity in future.”

Mr. Mishra said even if 5 per cent taxpayers turn up to pay holding tax in the beginning, it would be very encouraging.

The BMC has already assessed 80,000 properties in the Capital city. It will be vetted by field-level staff. The corporation had collected Rs. 20.72 crore on account of holding tax collection during the year 2012-13.

A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said the government should first make taxpayer aware, give incentives to honest taxpayers, and penalise defaulting citizens. “Once property holders are brought into the tax bracket, the situation with regard to tax collection will improve.”

Along with the BMC, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, and the Berhampur Municipal Corporation are likely to implement the online collection from August 1.

At present, IT major Tata Consultancy Service is assisting the State government in launching the e-Municipality programme in 44 urban local bodies in the State. Besides the proposed online collection of tax, online grievance registering mechanism relating births and deaths, collection of trade licence and water connection charges are proposed to be rolled out in the month of August.

After strengthening of e-Municipality initiative in the 44 urban local bodies, the remaining 62 ULBs would be covered under the e-governance programme.

At present, the tax is being collected manually. Online payment is an alternative option for the taxpayers.

Sanjib Mishra Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

The Times of India              24.05.2013

LMC starts e-tendering for projects

LUCKNOW: To bring transparency in various transactions, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) successfully launched e-tendering facility on its website on Thursday, encouraging contractors to participate in 99 tenders on a single day.

Officials claim that tenders worth more than Rs 29 crore were applied for on Thursday, which are currently being reviewed. Most of these tenders are for the construction of drains across the city. The e-tendering facility allows a contractor to apply online for a particular tender and the application can be accessed and compared with others by authorities online. Uptil now, e-tendering was being done for civic works whose cost was less than Rs 5 lakh. This is the first time LMC has forayed into e-tendering for projects above Rs 5 lakh. Apart from Lucknow, Agra is the only city where e-tendering for bigger projects is being implemented. tnn

Terming the development as historic for the agency, officials seemed excited. This is also a mandatory reform required by the massive national city-modernisation scheme - Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). With this development, LMC has scored on reform targets set by the JNNURM.

Currently, the tenders are being accessed by the authorities. Officials have claimed that e-tendering would facilitate them in faster implementation of projects as online transactions are more efficient and transparent.