Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, April 3: The city corporation had taken several measures to plug leakage of its income and pleaded with the citizens of the city to pay all taxes promptly. Still, the revenue collection during the financial year just gone by stood at only 75 percent of the estimated figure.

As at the end of 12 months ending March 31 this year, the city corporation found to its dismay that its income fell short by 25 percent. Last year, the shortfall in revenue figure was 15 percent. As against the estimated income of Rs 77.05 crore during the financial year 2017-18, the corporatoion achieved a figure of Rs 58.8 crore, thus falling short of the target by Rs 18.25 crore.

Compared to previous year, 1,220 new properties have been added to the existing ones during this year. This should have swelled income of the city corporation as addition of every property is expected to add to the income of the corporation. But it has been observed that the total collection of revenue has remained stagnant during the year.

In the year 2016-17, the city corporation had set for itself a goal of collecting Rs 60.39 crore. It had succeeded in reaching a figure of Rs 58.19 crore. This time, with the addition of properties, the city corporation hoped to get income of Rs 67.98 crore from property taxes but could get only Rs 51.86 crore. This was the case, in spite of the fact that a sum of Rs 10.3 crore was collected as property tax during March alone.

The corporation will need a few days to account for and reconcile online payment of taxes and other taxes and arrive at a concrete figure. The financial year 2016-17 had been very fruitful for the corporation as the people had remitted taxes in considerable quantities. This enthusiasm has been found missing this time.

Those whose property taxes are pending have time till April end to pay taxes and they also have incentive by way of five percent reduction in property tax. Sources say that the city corporation has decided to publish names of people having property tax dues in the media.

The directorate of municipal administration had said that all kinds of payment to the corporations should be done through banks. However, for the convenience of the general public, they have been given time till April end to make payments through 'Mangaluru One' centres. From May 1 onward this year, all payments need to be routed through banks. The government has already made arrangements to make payments through State bank of India, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India etc. Online payment facility is also available.