The Hindu 29.12.2010
Mysore City Corporation ups property tax collection drive
| It has fixed Rs. 62 crore as target for financial year 2010-11 |
The authorities have collected tax of
Rs. 35 crore till now
In a move to draw attention, they have resorted
to drum beating in front of shops
Initiative:The civic body has launched a drive to collect property tax from owners of commercial establishments.
MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has stepped up the drive to collect property tax from commercial establishments.
The drive was launched to augment the revenue for the MCC to meet its exigencies and provide civic amenities. Sources in the MCC said the authorities have fixed Rs. 65 crore as target for the financial year 2010-11, against which the authorities have collected upto Rs. 35 crore till now. In a novel move to draw the attention of property owners and embarrass them, the authorities resorted to drum beating in front of the shops. This would catch the interest of the passersby. Though officials said it was a “wake-up call” for property owners, sources maintained that it helped bring pressure on the owners. The tenants would rather cough up the money to minimise attention and public gaze. The officials said that though the owners had rented out premises, there was provision in the Act to collect property tax for commercial establishments from the tenants and the latter could adjust it with the owners. The drive was necessitated to meet the revenue target as the financial year was just three months away and the target was stiff. The MCC had a target of Rs. 50 crore during the previous financial year and fell short of meeting the target.
