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Taxation

Many properties ‘missing’ in tax portal! V. Geetanath HYDERABAD, January 07, 2018 00:00 IST Updated: January 07, 2018 03:52 IST Share Article PRINT A A A [Many properties ‘missing’ in tax portal!] Commissioners asked to make precise assessm

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The Hindu        08.01.2018  

Many properties ‘missing’ in tax portal!


Commissioners asked to make precise assessment, submit details within 10 days

About 13,113 urban properties in 63 municipalities or Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across Telangana do not show any measurements pertaining to the size or shape in the official records while another 1,394 properties in 43 municipalities are with zero tax payment!

These ‘discrepancies’ in the property tax records in the Urban Local Bodies came to light when senior officials of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development pursued a report furnished by E-suvidha to the department detailing tax receipts for the year so far.

With just three months to go for the various municipal bodies to complete collection of property tax, which is a major source of revenue, the department has directed municipal commissioners of the ULBs concerned to make precise assessments of the properties listed and submit details of the same within 10 days.

There are close to 12.5 lakh properties in the 73 ULBs that have been satellite mapped and geo-tagged recently with the help of ISRO-National Remote Sensing Centre.

Karimnagar topped the list of maximum properties without any measurements at 1,484 followed by Adilabad (1,127), Khammam (960), Nizamabad (881), Tandur (748), Sangareddy (629), Palwancha (469) and Korutla (433).

Among municipalities with zero tax properties are Wanaparthy (324), Khammam (256), Zaheerabad (137) and Palwancha (126).

Third-party audits

Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao had earlier asked the department to have third party independent audits on the functioning of the Urban Local Bodies and the Institute of Public Auditors has been poring through the records to check for fault lines to be corrected.

Already, about 16,800 properties not even in tax assessments have been identified and notices served, senior officials said.

Municipal commissioners concerned have now been instructed to ensure revenue inspectors are sent onto the field for physical verification of the properties listed in the above mentioned categories, take correct measurements, calculate the tax amount to be paid and update the same in the online tax module, as per orders by Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration T.K. Sreedevi.

 

BMC can’t collect advertisement tax for hoardings on rly land: HC

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The Times of India       28.12.2017  

BMC can’t collect advertisement tax for hoardings on rly land: HC

| Updated: Dec 25, 2017, 04:02 IST
(Representative image)
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has directed the Indian Railways to formulate a policy for putting up hoardings on its properties that takes into consideration the safety of the public.
A division bench of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Sandeep Shinde passed the orders while thwarting a bid by the BMC to collect "advertisement tax" for the hoardings that are put up on railway land but face public roads.

There are 225 such hoardings on lands owned by Central Railways and 240 on lands owned by Western Railways that reportedly earn over Rs 60 crore revenue annually. The court held that BMC permission was not needed for the hoardings on railway land and neither could the corporation collect a "fee" from the hoarding owners. The bench, however, expressed concern over the haphazard manner in which hoardings are put up.

"We are of the considered view that erection of hoardings in haphazard manner thereby endangering the safety of citizens would not be in the larger public interest," said the division bench. It gave the railways six months to come up with a policy "for regulating the hoardings on the railway properties, after taking into consideration various statutory provisions, so as to ensure that the hoardings are not erected in haphazard manner, that there is no overcrowding of the hoardings and that the safety of citizens is not endangered." The judges said they would appreciate it if the railways involved the BMC while framing a policy for the city.

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BMC are real beggarsHenry DeSouza

The high court, in 2001, in a PIL about illegal hoardings, directed the municipal corporation to formulate policy guidelines for grant of permission for display of sky-signs and advertisements. Between 2008 and 2010, various directions were passed by the high court on the issue. In 2014, the commissioner asked the railways not to put up hoardings on railway properties which are visible from a public road without first obtaining permission. The BMC's demand for a fee for such hoardings was challenged by the railways as well as hoarding owners.

Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, counsel for the railways, cited the provisions of the Railway Act. Singh said that the power to construct on its land, including putting up of structures for displaying hoarding, was exclusively with the Railways. The advocate further contended that the Railways was not liable to pay any tax on such advertisements unless the Centre issues a notification. "Charges which are sought to be recovered by the corporation are nothing but compulsory exaction of money without rendering any services," said Singh.
 

South corporation makes entry points toll-free for three days

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The Times of India       14.11.2017

South corporation makes entry points toll-free for three days

NEW DELHI: South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is the nodal head for collection of toll tax across the city, has decided to make the entry points free from toll tax for three days. Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat said the decision has been taken keeping the congestion at entry points in mind.

The order will be implemented from Tuesday. However, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had ordered to enforce ban on the entry of heavy vehicles except emergency service vehicles until further order as an emergency measure.

"We were informed by the police that a string of vehicles are queueing up at the entry points adding more to the rising level of pollution," added Sehrawat.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered in 2015 to impose Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on light and heavy vehicles to curb pollution. However, making it free is only going to increase the number vehicles entering through 124 entry points in Delhi, sources said.

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SDMChas not only acted contrary to orders of Court but the move will cause financial loss in revenue and will add to pollution in the city.RM

The ECC imposed by NGT on light vehicles is Rs 1,400 and for heavy commercial vehicles, it is Rs 2,800.

Experts, however, have blasted the move, saying the corporation is actually going against the court's decision and adding to the pollution by allowing more trucks inside. "This is opposing the court order by not collecting ECC which is supposed to be a deterrent for truck owners from entering. How can the corporation take a decision like that? Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is underway and we are in an emergency situation right now which says entry of trucks should be banned, but this is not just allowing them inside but also encouraging their entry," said Anumita Roy Chowdhury of CSE.
 


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