The Hindu 03.05.2013
VMC launches survey to plug revenue loopholes
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has launched a revenue study
with a view to plugging the loopholes, if any. The teams, comprising
revenue, town planning, and public health (D&O licence) officials,
and a representative of CAD solutions, is pressed into action.
The
pilot study is being carried out in 21B revenue ward. Based on the
results, the study will be extended to other parts of the city. The team
will examine deviations in assessment, usage — say using the house for
commercial purpose though it is recorded as residential — wrong
measurements etc.
Similarly, the team will record the data such as
property tax, water and drainage charges being paid, location of
property. The data will be integrated for better services and
improvement of tax collection, sources say.
In the ongoing study,
the team observed that some owners have changed the usage and have not
informed the corporation. Neither, the field staff such as revenue
inspectors and bill collectors is aware of the deviations.
For
example, first floor of a house was converted into a godown. Hitherto,
the shops in ground floor were only recorded as commercial. As there was
demand for more space from the shopkeepers, the owner leased out the
first floor for godown purposes, sources say.
The teams also
encountered stiff opposition from the public, more particularly from
traders. For instance, Lifestyle furniture showroom located on Eluru
Road has declined to provide information sought by the team.
Subsequently, Municipal Commissioner G.S. Panda Das himself supervised
the records at the shop.
The study will help in improving the
property tax, Dangerous and Offensive (D&O) trade licence fee, water
charges etc. The corporation is expecting to improve the tax collection
by 25 per cent to 30 per cent. The total demand is expected to touch
Rs. 100 crore.
A high-level team to examine deviations in assessment, usage, and wrong measurements.
