Prohibition and Excise and Property Tax dues to the Secretariat for years, an RTI appeal found
Prohibition and Excise and Property Tax dues to the Secretariat for years, an RTI appeal found
More than 90 state government entities and departments owe ₹5,258 crore to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation as property tax arrears for a period ranging from a few months to 25 years.
The accumulated arrears from properties of state government undertakings is another ₹306 crore.
The facts and figures shared by GHMC in response to a query under the RTI Act by Forum for Good Governance (FGG) showed that the medical and health department had an unpaid amount of ₹1185 crore for more than 23 years. There is property tax. Making the biggest dent in the revenue of the civic body.
During the recent GHMC council meeting, Commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar shared the figures and said that the corporation’s hands are tied when it comes to taking action as the bulk of the dues are with the education and health departments, which at the heart of public services. cannot be interrupted.
However, it does not explain why the Prohibition and Excise Department has accumulated debt of ₹895 crore over 21 years, or ₹420 crore in police stations, both of which are more than ₹385 crore owed by the government. are more. educational institutions.
At ₹ 392 crore, the state secretariat’s dues for the last 13 years are also slightly higher than the GHMC’s dues to educational institutions.
Referring to the figures in a letter to the Chief Secretary, the FGG wondered why the Prohibition and Excise Department, which generates revenue of Rs 35,000 crore annually, is unable to pay the property tax dues.
For local bodies, the main revenue comes from property tax, and common citizens are quick to pay the same, the letter reminded.
The overwhelming response by the civic body to the Early Bird Scheme recently is a testament to which assessees paid ₹750 crore against the targeted ₹600 crore. The letter said the government is setting a bad example for law-abiding citizens by defaulting on tax dues for a long time.
The government is in fact not transferring GHMC’s share to GHMC not only because of default in payment of tax but also as per the recommendations of the State Finance Commission.
For this reason, GHMC is unable to provide basic minimum services to citizens, the letter said, and requested the Chief Secretary to issue necessary instructions to all department heads.