The fraud the GVMC civic tax payment centre Saukaryam does not take the credit away from the corporation that has won a national award for its use of information technology, Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu has said.
At a press conference with Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao on their return with the award, he said GVMC stood out among 65 urban mission cities by its provision to pay various taxes through use of IT technology. This made payment of taxes for nearly 4.5 lakh assesses easy.
Over a period of time, some persons indulged in the fraud resulting in embezzlement of about Rs.3 crore. Mr.Ramanjaneyulu said of the total, Rs.2.28 crore had been recovered and deposited in bank. Six more persons are still under investigation and all the money would be recovered. Reputed institutions would be called through tenders to streamline the system.
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He said that in any system such things might occur. One does not stop travelling because of road or air accidents, he said. On winning the award, he said the Mayor had received awards from the Union minister concerned, the Prime Minister and the President. Now, international awards remain to be won.
Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao dedicated the award, instituted by All India Institute of Local Self-Government and presented by President Pratibha Patil at Mumbai, to the people of the city. The award was achieved because of people, people's representatives and officials.
On a query that people were not happy merely by the award because of the Asilmetta flyover work not being completed resulting in traffic snarls, he said the work would be completed at the earliest adding that the deadline was March.
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The Mayor said the Chief Minister had assured them of releasing Rs. 30 crore in the next few days and Rs.60 crore by the month-end. Recently, Rs.42 crore has been released.
Around Rs.400 crore due towards the share of Central and State Governments for the Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission projects has been held back as the corporation has to implement certain reforms.
Floor leaders Behera Bhaskara Rao and AJ Stalin, Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy, several corporators and officials were present.