Officials net about Rs.1 to 1.50 crore in a very short period.

Dignity and status are more valued things in society, which is being proved through one of the old methods that was followed by Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation (RMC) Officials. They netted about Rs.1 to 1.50 crore in a very short period from tax evaders through this mechanism, adopted by Revenue wing of RMC.

RMC Commissioner M. Jitendra, his deputy B. Ravindra and Revenue Officer K. Kanyakumari were most worried about revenue collections to Corporation as the closure of financial year is fast approaching. They went through the dues list of property tax and perused them from last December. As there was no response from tax evaders, one fine morning they called media and announced that they will keep all the names and addresses of evaders in website and issue final notices. The tax evaders paid a deaf ear to the final warning also.

As announced earlier, the trio decided to go for `Tamuku’ (drum beat or dappu in local dialect) in front of their residences or shops. A group of six Revenue Inspectors, 13 Bill Collectors led by RO Kanyakumari along with Tamuku troupe went to Tilak Road, Kambala Tank, Jampeta, Nallamandu street and main road on Tuesday and Wednesday and collected about Rs.12 lakhs on the spot.

“As we sent a message that we are coming with Tamuku troupe to one of the big businessmen who had to pay Rs.52 lakh arrears and another person with Rs.12 lakhs, they rushed to our office and paid the entire amount at one go,” said Ms. Kanyakumari. She also said that there are many people falling in line to pay dues, afraid of Tamuku.

She added that dignity and status matter more in society and no one wants to bear the nuisance early in the morning.

However, she maintained that some of the evaders who are owners of the property left the city on the information of Tamuku and the tenants paid the tax.

The dues list which was kept in the website includes mainly government departments including Indian Oil Corporation Rs.19.65 lakhs, ESI Hospital Rs.7.18 lakhs, State Bank of India two branches around Rs. 7 lakh, NGO Home Rs.3.79 lakh, Saikrishna Theater Rs.4.55 lakh, Vikram Hall Rs.5.52 lakh, A.el.C. Mission Church office, hostel, home together around Rs.4 lakh, District Magistrate Court Canteen Rs.1. 19 lakh and another 33 individuals and organisations, mostly in court disputes.