The Hindu 04.02.2010
Madurai Corporation’s penal action pays off
Staff Reporter
| Officials collect Rs.2.21 cr. from tax defaulters in three days |
— Photo: K. Ganesan. 
NO OTHER GO: Underground drainage connections snapped at some commercial establishments for non-payment of property tax in the city on Wednesday.
MADURAI: Madurai Corporation’s penal action of disconnecting drinking water and underground drainage connections to tax defaulters has started paying off. The local body officials have collected Rs. 2.21 crore in the last three days.
The Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), R. Baskaran, said that the corporation had to collect around Rs. 100-crore arrears under various heads, including property tax, water chargers, underground drainage charges and rent for shops in shopping complex and vegetable markets.
He said the collection each day collection was between Rs. 65 lakh to Rs. 80 lakh in the last three days.
The action would continue in order to achieve over 90 per cent collection of all tax and charges for the fiscal.
Truck operators have agreed to shift their operation to the truck terminal constructed at Mattuthavani, Kochadai and Avaniapuram.
In a statement, the Corporation Commissioner, S. Sebastine, said that even omni-bus operators had expressed their willingness to shift their offices and vehicles to Mattuthavani truck terminal.
During the discussion with Corporation officials, representatives of omni-bus and truck operators sought the local body to fix a nominal rent and deposit amount to set up their offices at the terminals. The rent and deposit amount would be fixed after another round of discussion.
The Chief Engineer, K. Sakthivel, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) R. Baskaran, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Magudapathi, were among those who were present.
