The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been losing revenue of around Rs.14 crore annually due to non-payment of entertainment tax by cinema theatres and multiplexes in the city.
As per government orders, theatres have to pay 20 per cent of the amount collected from ticket sales to the civic body.
There are more than 160 theatres in GHMC jurisdiction and the civic body has calculated that at 20 per cent, a tax of Rs.40 lakh has to be paid every day, which works out to Rs.1.20 crore per month.
In a press release issued here, the GHMC said though the tax collection from theatres should be more than Rs.14 crore per year, it was not receiving even 10 per cent of it.
GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar, who set a target of raising the civic body earnings to at least Rs.5,000 crore, has now decided to focus on the theatres and multiplexes in the city for the due tax collections. Towards this, circle wise enumeration of theatres, ticket pricing and number of seats would be taken up, according to the release.
Lake beautificationMeanwhile, the GHMC has selected the lakes in Alwal, Shaikpet and Uppal for development and beautification. The civic body, which has decided to have at least two developed water bodies in each circle, would take up protection measures and also lay jogging tracks, gardens and landscape at an estimated cost of Rs.3 crore each, according to a press release.
