The Hindu               12.08.2013

Remove illegal structures from Ashraya colonies: Minister

Qamar-ul Islam, Minister for Municipalities and Local Bodies and Wakf, has directed Deputy Commissioner N.S. Prasanna Kumar and the City Corporation Commissioner S. Kattimani to demolish unauthorised structures in S.M. Krishna Ashraya Colony and Shaikh Roza Ashraya Colony.

He was speaking on Sunday at a review meeting he chaired to discuss the progress made in the implementation of several developmental projects in Gulbarga.

Mr. Islam said all illegal structures, including multi-storeyed buildings and commercial completes that have come up in the two colonies should be removed, and Ashraya houses be built there for the benefit of the deserving poor. He said this in response to the observation that Mr. Prasanna Kumar made with regard to illegal structures that have come up in Ashraya colonies. Corporation officials, including the Commissioner, told the Minister that a private hospital and a school building have come up in S.M. Krishna Ashraya Colony in place of Ashraya houses that the government had constructed. There were also several instances of the beneficiaries who had been allotted the houses had either illegally sold the houses or let them out on rent.

Mr. Prasanna Kumar held the city corporation officials responsible for the situation that has arisen in the Ashraya colonies. People with vested interests were demolishing houses built under the Ashraya scheme, and in its place building structures unauthorisedly. He said that the city corporation officials should take immediate measures to evict illegal occupants in the Ashraya houses in the S.M. Krishna Ashraya Colony and Sheikh Roza Ashraya Colony and hand over the same to the original beneficiaries. And, it should also be ensured that the original beneficiaries stayed in the allotted Ashraya houses and that they did not sell them away to some one else or rented it out for someone. Referring to the non-collection of the property taxes from owners of commercial buildings and the education societies, Mr. Qamar-ul Islam said that the corporation officials should initiate stringent measures immediately to collect all the dues from the educational institutions and other commercial buildings. The corporation should also collect the fees dues for displaying advertisement hoardings. Those who put up illegal hoardings should be penalised, he added.

The Times of India             08.08.2013

NMC action against traders unregistered under LBT

NAGPUR: Over 40 days after the deadline, only 28,000 traders have registered with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) under the local body tax (LBT). To ensure registration of all traders, the LBT department has now started a drive to find traders not registered under LBT and recover five times penalty. Besides, the department has also started recovering 2% interest per month on late payment of LBT.

Assistant commissioner (LBT) Mahesh Dhamecha told TOI the drive has been started by LBT teams of all ten zones. Each team comprises an inspector and junior inspector. Around 22,000 of the registered 28,000 traders are those paying VAT. So, only a few traders remain to be registered. Traders (local purchasers) with annual turnover of Rs 5 lakh and traders (importers) with annual turnover of Rs 1 lakh have to be registered.

"NMC has urged the traders from time to time to ensure registration. Still over 7,000 traders are yet to come under LBT purview. Action is the only option, since the registration deadline was June 20. We have not taken action against any trader till date. Now, notices are ready and will be served as soon as we find unregistered traders," he said.

On LBT payment issue, Dhamecha said already 2% interest per month is being recovered for late payments. "Deadline for payment of April and May was June 20. Payment for June was to be paid by July 20. Around 6,000-7,000 traders paid LBT. Department will recover 4% extra from traders who did not pay for April and May, and 2% interest from those who have not paid for June," he said.

Dhamecha said there have been some developments on LBT issue recently. "Coordination committee has been formed under municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane, with additional deputy municipal commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare and myself as members. We also have three representatives from traders association, two chartered accountants and two advocates. First meeting of the committee will be held soon," he said.

On the revenue from LBT, Dhamecha said revenue was still not at par with octroi, but satisfactory. "Rs115 crore used to be recovered from octroi by June 30. LBT registered revenue of Rs 67 crore, with Rs 20 crore from stamp duty. Cooperation from traders will help increase revenue," he said.

Expressing a concern on evasion through transit passes, Dhamecha said movement of trucks is being closely monitored. "Some transporters are not paying even though transit pass is only Rs 100. Penalty of Rs 1,620 will be levied in case of evasion," he said.

However, sources told TOI the department has neglected recovery of octroi arrears and finalization of octroi evasion cases after implementation of LBT.