NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation
(NMC), which took over the collection of octroi from a private
contractor on May 19, recorded a growth of 35% in three months as
compared to 2011.

On April 13, the general body had decided that the NMC take over octroi collection
which was in private hands for two years. Accordingly, the NMC took
charge of the octroi posts on May 19, when the erstwhile contract
expired. The general body on April 13 had decided that the octroi
collection that was in private hands for two years would be taken over
by the NMC after the contract of the agency got over on May 18.
Accordingly, the NMC trained its staff and took over the octroi posts on
May 18.

Last year, the NMC’s octroi collection was Rs 135
crores in the first three months. This year, the collection during the
same period is Rs 183 crores. “We have collected Rs 28.5 crore more this
quarter as compared to last year. This is 35% rise in the octroi
collection. There should be, as per the rules, 15% growth from the
previous year,” said deputy commissioner of the NMC’s octroi department,
Haribhau Phadol. This growth has also exceeded the 25% rise as
suggested by the municipal commissioner in his proposed budget.

“During the off season, we have been collecting Rs 2 crore octroi
everyday. Also, there is industrial slack and we are not getting as much
octroi from this sector as we should. We are certain that the total
octroi collection would increase once the offseason is over,” said
Phadol.

In the municipal commissioner’s proposed budget, a
target of Rs 656 crores had been mentioned. According to the rules, it
should be Rs 603 crores.

The deputy commissioner said that at
this rate the NMC would cross a collection of Rs 700 crore.The
collection of octroi had been privatised two years ago by the then Shiv
Sena-BJP alliance that was ruling the NMC. When the Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena wrested power in the civic elections held in February
this year, it decided to end privatisation.