There is a near 10 per cent increase this year in property tax collection in the Coimbatore Corporation.
According to Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy the civic body has, as on December 27, collected Rs. 65.53 crore. Last year this was Rs. 60.95 crore.
Increase
He attributed the increase to the series of collection drives the civic body had initiated in the recent past.
“The Corporation has reached out to the assessees through the media and also street-wise campaign. It has engaged autorickshaws to reach out to the people by playing taped announcements and distributing handbills.”
In the last few days the collection has picked up, says S. Sivarasu, Deputy Commissioner. By the end of the calendar year, the civic body would have collected another Rs. 5 crore.
The discussion on tax collection came up at the Finance and Taxation Committee's meeting on Tuesday.
There the Mayor S.M. Velusamy had asked officials to ensure that there was no laxity in tax collection.
He also discussed measures to initiate action against defaulters.
Mr. Ponnusamy said that the civic body had tied-up with banks, introduced e-payment facility and taken other facilities to ensure hassle-free tax payment and asked assessees to make use of those.
He warned that the Corporation would soon severe water connection for those who had not paid their taxes.
On the water tax front too the Corporation had made some progress.
Compared to 2010's Rs. 15.9 crore, the civic body has this year collected around Rs. 17 crore.
Flat rate
The collection in added areas is based on the flat rate system. In the city the civic body meters the usage and charges accordingly.
