SURAT: As the end of financial year draws near , Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has intensified it's taxrecovery campaign.

Tax recovery department has now concentrated it's efforts on recovery of Rs 8 crore from number of telecom service provider companies that have erected nearly 1400 mobile towers in the city but are yet to pay part of their dues to the civic body.

SMC has given these companies time up to March, 20, 2013 and has recovered Rs 11 crore from the total Rs 19 crore . "We have issued them the notices and will wait up March, 20, 2013 for them to make the stipulated payment after that we will begin our seizure work." Said Sharad Mehta, Deputy Commissioner Finance , SMC.

Tax recovery issue from telecom provider companies is in court and according to the court , it the final verdict is delivered companies must pay 50 per cent of the demand . If the final decision is in favor of the companies SMC will return them the whole paid up amount but the decision is in favor of the SMC than companies must pay up remaining amount with 18 per cent interest.

Last year SMC had defused some mobile towers for non payment of taxes and that had resulted in recovery of some amount.

SURAT: Several diamond unit owners in Mahidharpura area were surprised to see their shops locked early in the mornings. This has been going on since a week now Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has chosen the early hours of the day to seal the units of professional tax defaulters.

Mahidharpura diamond market is a heavily crowded place and SMC officials are scared to carry out any operation during day time.

It was planned to carry out the professional tax collection drive during day time but considering the likely opposition by the unit owners and their supporters. it was avoided.

"Lakhs of people operate from Mahidharpura market on any working day. If we go there for any official work we face huge opposition, arguments and in some cases man-handling too. It is almost impossible to pull out all the employees working in a unit and seal it during the day time," said M D Daruwala, SMC's central zone chief.

SMC officials begin their sealing drive as early as 6am and the operation continues till 9 am just before the market starts.

"We serve warning notice of three days time limit to pay the professional tax dues. If they don't pay, we seal the units as per the directives before sunrise. It gives us enough time and security to carry out the sealing operation," said one of the SMC team members.

"I was surprised to see the seal on my unit on Thursday morning. I came to know later that it was by SMC. If they come in day time we would not allow them to seal but now they found a unique way to create pressure on us to pay the tax. Since it was a very nominal amount I will pay soon," an office owner in Mahidharpura said.

So far 56 units in Mahidharpura area have been sealed. "When we seal one unit it sends message to others in the area and slowly all defaulters pay their due without sealing. To carry out sealing in early morning is a safe technique to recover due tax," Daruwala said.