The Hindu      16.02.2011

Property, professional taxes untouched in Corporation budget

The Chennai Corporation budget for 2011-12, presented on Tuesday, has left the property and professional tax rates untouched even while continuing with the emphasis on health and education.

The budget, presented by Chairperson of the civic body's Committee on Taxation and Finance Radha Sambandan, has several welfare measures in the health and education sectors.

One of them is a proposal to launch master health check-up consisting of 18 tests for Rs.500 at Corporation diagnostic centres in Perambur, Valluvar Kottam, EVR Salai, Saidapet and Thiruvanmiyur.

Addressing the Council, Mayor M.Subramanian said the master health check-up scheme would be of help to the poor.

The budget document said Rs.734.30 crore was to be allotted towards capital works. The total revenue is estimated to be Rs.1,943.76 crore and the total expenditure Rs.1,945.16 crore.

The collection of property tax in the current fiscal is likely to be Rs.400 crore as against nearly Rs.370 crore in 2009-10.

The estimated property tax collection in 2011-2012 is Rs. 410 crore and profession tax Rs.150 crore.

Mobile clinics

Mobile clinics would be launched for treating residents of 1,460 slums. Students who recite all 1,330 couplets of Thirukkural would be given a scholarship of Rs.1,000 per year till they complete their school education. White school uniforms will be distributed free of cost to students of Chennai Schools.

Blue overcoat

All girl students of Chennai High and Higher Secondary Schools would receive a blue overcoat.

Videoconference facility would be launched in all the ten zonal offices as part of the e-governance initiative of the civic body.