67% of Property tax only collectd in 06-07
The Coimbatore Corporation's Property Tax collection for the 2006-07 financial year was Rs.28 crore as against the target of Rs.40 crore of that year's demand. The arrears collection was Rs.17 crore, as against the target of Rs.34 crore.A revenue wing official in the Corporation, however, said on 12.04.2007 that the overall collection was 83 per cent when revenue under other heads such as Vacant Land Tax and non-tax incomes such as licence renewal was also added.March saw a spurt in tax revenue, driven mostly the Corporation's penal action of severing drinking water lines for default. The collection per day went up to Rs.1 crore after the Corporation threatened to publish in newspapers the names of defaulters.The punitive action led to a record collection of Rs.25 crore a day in March alone, Assistant Commissioner R. Prabhakaran said.Stressing the Corporation message of tax compliance, the official said that it was unfortunate that people rushed to the collection centres only when the civic body brandished the hacksaw. Till then, they kept putting off payment.Mr. Prabhakaran said that the 2007-2008 Property Tax demand was Rs.42 crores. The collection over the first 10 days of the new financial year (April 1 to 10) was over Rs. 1 crore.The target drinking water charge collection for the year was around Rs.9 crore. The collection so far was Rs.38 lakh.The collection of water charge in the last financial year was high. As against the demand of Rs.7.46 crore for that year alone, the collection was Rs.7.28 crore. The arrears demand was Rs.4.96 crore and the collection was Rs.4.74 crore.
Asked why Property Tax collection was not as good as water charges, the official said that some substantial sums were locked in litigation. Revenue flow was blocked from sick mills also.Sources in the Corporation also said that vacancies in the zonal offices to the posts of Assistant Commissioners had also hit collection.
