The adverse remarks made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on tax collection by the City Corporation has prompted authorities to streamline functioning of the tax wing of the civic body and set monthly targets for bill collectors at the ward level. The CAG in its audit report on the Local self-government institutions for the year ending March 2012 had found that even after seven years the civic body had not made mandatory reforms for increasing the property tax collection to 85 per cent of the projected demand as part of the norms set for implementing the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
The standing committee for Finance, which met last week, decided to hold tax review meetings on the second Friday of every month and also decided to set monthly targets for bill collectors. Deputy Mayor Happy Kumar, who is also chairman of the standing committee for Finance, told The Hindu , that henceforth it was decided to hold monthly meetings of revenue inspectors to review collection of property tax. “Probably we will hold the meeting on the second Friday of every month,” he said.
The Corporation also plans to fix accountability to even junior level officers in the revenue wing and in this regard a resolution would be moved to get the council’s approval. The Corporation had projected a demand of Rs. 60 crore as property tax in the current budget. A survey would be conducted to assess buildings, unaided educational institutions to prevent tax evasion, he said.
