Sushil Modi for deputing more tax collectors

PATNA: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the additional charge of urban development department, on Monday issued directives for deputing
more tax collectors to improve the performance of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) on the holding tax collection front. The corporation collected Rs 13.50 crore as holding tax in previous fiscal (2008-09) against a target of Rs 23.71 crore which was based on the tax to be collected from 2.9 lakh holdings. As many as 42 regular and four commissioned-based tax collectors were supposed to do the aforesaid job. “The PMC should depute more commissioned-based tax collectors for enhancing its performance on the tax collection front,” Modi observed while chairing a review meeting to assess the performance of the corporation. He said that enhanced number of tax collectors would certainly help the PMC in improving its performance. The meeting also decided to give special rebate to those willing to pay their holding tax in advance and also to develop a system which could ensure punishment to those who fail to deposit holding tax in time. Principal secretary, urban development, Dipak Kumar informed the deputy chief minister that the team which had gone to Delhi to study the holding tax collection system there had come back. Modi directed Kumar to see that the team submits its report at the earliest so that changes in the holding tax collection system could be introduced in accordance with the report. The officials attending the meet assured Modi that computerisation work of the PMC would be completed within three months and then the facility of on-line payment of taxes would be introduced. Meanwhile, PMC has decided to add one more service which would be offered to the residents through the service desk set at the corporation’s office. It pertains to providing taxi services. Taxi owners and travel agencies have been invited for being empanelled as a registered one for providing the services. The PMC would empanel them after verifying their credentials. Incidentally, the corporation at present offers various services through its service centre which can be availed by calling at phone number 0612-2911134.