The State government’s one-time settlement scheme of tax arrears has failed to evoke the expected response in the district where thousands of vehicle owners are at fault.
With the scheme to last just over two months, owners of only 721 vehicles have availed of the scheme, contributing just about Rs. 23 lakh to the State exchequer.
Ernakulum Regional Transport Office (RTO) leads the pack, mobilising Rs. 5.45 lakh from 290 vehicles, followed by Aluva sub RTO, which has collected Rs. 4.97 lakh from just 40 vehicles. Kothamangalam sub RTO has generated Rs. 2.36 lakh from 103 vehicles, more than the Rs. 2.19 lakh collected from 92 vehicles by Muvattupuzha RTO under which it falls.
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Perumbavoor sub RTO has managed Rs. 2.03 lakh from 54 vehicles, while North Paravur sub RTO has collected Rs. 1.79 lakh from 66 vehicles, Angamaly sub RTO Rs. 1.62 lakh from 21 vehicles and Mattancherry sub RTO Rs. 1.50 lakh from 30 vehicles. In Tripunithura sub RTO, the tax collection is just Rs. 72,500 from 25 vehicles.
Without an extension, the scheme is unlikely to produce the desired results despite its many attractions.
The scheme, which was introduced on January 1, is to last only till June-end. It is applicable to all types of vehicles which are in tax arrears for five years or more as on December 31, 2014.
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Private vehicle owners have to pay only 30 per cent of the tax arrears, including additional tax and interest, for the past five years while for transport vehicles owners it is only 20 per cent. Arrears can be paid without possessing registration certificate or insurance policy.
No tax will be charged from this year on vehicles, the whereabouts of which are not known or ones that have been dismantled, provided the registered owner or possessor of the vehicle gives an undertaking testifying to remit entire tax arrears with additional tax with effect from January 1, if the vehicle concerned is found on the road in contradiction of the undertaking.