The Indian Express              20.06.2013

LBT deals a blow to PMC, revenue dips

LBT is not matching the revenue octroi had yielded. With LBT from
traders falling way short of the octroi collection of around Rs 100
crore a month, the civic administration is looking at LBT from property
deals to enhance revenues.

“Revenue from LBT has been low compared to the expectation that
collection will be equivalent to octroi. Octroi collection was over Rs
100 crore per month. The situation is grave now. We have to be cautious
while spending civic money,” said PMC chief accountant Ulka Kalaskar.

She said that all civic departments have felt the impact of LBT
and they are cooperating in financial management by taking appropriate
steps to control expenditure.

No major project has been started this year so far, Kalaskar
said. But there are big projects that are on and will continue. “To
overcome a possible shortfall in LBT, the department concerned has been
asked to get LBT collected by the state registration office from
property dealings. The amount of Rs 48 crore is quite big and would help
PMC overcome a possible shortage,” she added.

Joint Municipal Commissioner Vilas Kanade said poor LBT collection is a big concern for civic administration.

“We will begin action against traders not registering under LBT.
The civic administration is fully prepared for taking up the exercise
and will initiate action as per law,” he said.

The civic staff will physically verify documents of each trader,
Kanade said adding that the exact number of traders coming under LBT
will be clear after the administration completes physical verification
of documents.