The Indian Express           01.08.2013

AMC registers 31% rise in property tax

As on July 30, the tax collection stands at Rs 255.54 crore, which is Rs 61.42 crore more than the Rs 194.11 crore collected in April-July 2012. The major share is from the New West Zone, followed by West Zone, according to data released by the AMC.

Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra called a review meeting of tax department officials last week where he told them to pay more attention to find out commercial activity being carried out from residential premises within AMC limits.

He also told officials to find out such residential premises and convert them into commercial ones, applying commercial rates of property tax, said an AMC release on Wednesday. Commercial activities include running tuition classes, dance training classes, art classes or any such other activities.

Besides, zonal deputy assessor and tax collectors have been asked to compile a list of rented premises by getting details of tenants from all police stations. He also asked the officials concerned to survey all schools, colleges, malls, hotels and hospitals in the city and ensure that all of them paid the property tax within the deadlines set for payments. All slums and chawl residents must be made to pay tax dues on time, Mohapatra said.

A special sealing drive has also been planned for tax defaulters in the city. Estate department officials have been told to assist tax department for on the spot tax collection from big markets, residential areas and shopping malls etc.