Deccan Chronicle 03.02.2010

26 buildings sealed for property tax default

Feb 2: In the past one week, the revenue department has sealed 26 buildings in Chennai for evading property tax. The revenue department has planned for a series of drive against errant taxpayers as financial year is coming to an end.

The commercial and residential buildings that have arrears amounting more than Rs 1 lakh are now under scanner, a senior corporation official said.

More than 200 officers including revenue inspectors are now reviewing the collection process and on daily basis about Rs 1.5 crore is collected.

The drive will continue till March 31 and the revenue department is planning to generate tax revenue of at least Rs 70 crore by the end of current fiscal, the official said.

Initially, warrant is issued to tax defaulters. In case if there is no response, the corporation can either seal the property or confiscate the properties of the defaulters as per Madras City Municipal Corporation Act, sources said.

It may be noted that city corporation is facing an herculean task of collecting over Rs 400 crore from the major property owners who have been evading payment of tax for last many years. According to data available with city corporation, the property tax arrears are high in prime areas like Anna Salai, Chamiers Road, Parry’s, Santhome, Luz Church road, N.S.C. Bose road and parts of T Nagar.