The CDMA dashed off letters to the commissioners of the municipal corporations of Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Guntur, Anantapuram, Warangal and Hyderabad. He asked them to expedite collection of the property tax dues from the central and state governments.

The cumulative dues of tax on government buildings in the the above-said cities are to the tune of Rs 188.76 crore.

The urban local bodies (ULBs) have been able to collect property tax dues successfully from house-owners through various means and the CDMA wants the same strategy to be adopted for government properties as well in collecting the property tax dues.

The CDMA reminded the municipal commissioners that property tax was the main source of income to municipalities and corporations, and the money is spent for the overall development of the city or town concerned by the local body.

The dues from the central and state governments’ properties to the municipal corporations are Visakhapatnam (Rs 27.19 crore), Rajahmundry (Rs 47.50 crore), Guntur (Rs 29.04 crore, Anantapuram (Rs 44.06 crore), Warangal (Rs 25.52 crore) and Hyderabad (Rs 15.42 crore). The total dues are more than Rs 188.76 crore.

The CDMA has issued instructions to the municipal commissioners to take personal attention and ensure that the dues were collected at the earliest.

Letters should be addressed to the departments concerned frequently and a few officers in the cadres of rewvenue officer, town planning officers be entrusted with the task of collecting the dues.

If there is a lack of coordination between the ULBs and the departments concerned on recovering the huge property tax dues, the municipal commissioner should inform the district collectors concerned through letters.