The Hindu 29.12.2010
Mysore City Corporation ups property tax collection drive
Special Correspondent
|
It has fixed Rs. 62 crore as target for financial year 2010-11 |
The authorities have collected tax of
Rs. 35 crore till now
In a move to draw attention, they have resorted
to drum beating in front of shops
— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
Initiative:The civic body has launched a drive to collect property tax
from owners of commercial establishments.
MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has stepped up the drive to collect property tax from commercial establishments.
The drive was launched to augment the revenue for the MCC to meet its
exigencies and provide civic amenities. Sources in the MCC said the
authorities have fixed Rs. 65 crore as target for the financial year
2010-11, against which the authorities have collected upto Rs. 35 crore
till now. In a novel move to draw the attention of property owners and
embarrass them, the authorities resorted to drum beating in front of the
shops. This would catch the interest of the passersby. Though officials
said it was a “wake-up call” for property owners, sources maintained
that it helped bring pressure on the owners. The tenants would rather
cough up the money to minimise attention and public gaze. The officials
said that though the owners had rented out premises, there was provision
in the Act to collect property tax for commercial establishments from
the tenants and the latter could adjust it with the owners. The drive
was necessitated to meet the revenue target as the financial year was
just three months away and the target was stiff. The MCC had a target of
Rs. 50 crore during the previous financial year and fell short of
meeting the target.
