SURAT: After a lacklustre
performance in the last financial year the Surat Municipal Corporation
(SMC) has created a history of sorts in 2012-13 by netting an all-time
high tax recovery
and incurring capital expenditure. Against proposed capital expenditure
of Rs 1,214 crore, it has spent Rs 1,215 crore meeting its targets for
the first time in the last decade.

The civic body has the also
taken possession of 8.5 lakh square metres that was encroached upon. The
market value of this land is estimated at Rs 3,000 crore. “We plan to
use this land for developing basic infrastructure facilities,” said
municipal commissioner Manoj Das.

In the direct tax collection, the SMC
has crossed the barrier of Rs 500 crore for the first time. During
2010-11 its total income from property tax, professional tax and vehicle
tax was Rs 270 crore which now stands at Rs 503.68 crore.

According to accounts department officials the SMC has collected Rs
394.52 crore as property tax, Rs 72.20 crore as professional taxes and
Rs 37.05 crore as taxes on vehicles.

Among the recovery made by
SMC’s zonal offices, Athwa zone recovered 98 per cent, Varachha 97.34
per cent, Rander 92 per cent, Katargam 79 per cent, Limbayat 86 per
cent, Udhna 76 per cent and Central Zone 65 per cent.