Revenue collection dips by 20 per cent due to rain

Chennai and Kancheepuram are the major districts that contribute to the state exchequer, but with Chennai taking a severe beating, revenue collection has dipped. “Most of our tax collectors and revenue inspectors are busy with relief work and rain has affected tax collection in areas such as Tambaram, Pallavaram and in north and south Chennai coming under city corporation limits”, admitted revenue department sources in Kancheepuram and Chennai.

In Chennai, the daily property tax collection ranges from Rs 1 crore to 1.5 crore during non peak season and doubles during peak season, but as the tax collectors and corporation staff are busy with monsoon relief, there is a dip. Regular tax-payers and online payments are credited, but the follow up on defaulters is now on a slow track, admitted a Chennai corporation official. “The sewer overflow in north Chennai and the discomfort faced by the public is also another reason for the engineers to go slow on show cause notices against water tax defaulters”, admitted a metro water engineer. In the case of Metropolitan Transport Corporation, the revenue has dipped even further by 25 to 30 per cent, according to corporation insiders.

The MTC’s earning per day is around Rs 2.4 crore, but since the onset of heavy rain, patronage for government buses and the trips operated by MTC took a beating, said LPF trade union general secretary M. Shanmugham. Of the total 3,400 buses, about 90 per cent of buses have suffered damage ranging from suspension problem to engine malfunctioning. All buses have developed at least minor problems and seats were also damaged during rain. Water-logging has weakened the frame and the vehicles needed overhauling, he said.

“Per day, four singles are usually operated, but during rain most of the crew operated only two services and the revenue loss will be around Rs 30 crore in Chennai, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts”, a transport official said adding that minister K.V. Thangamani has instructed the department officials to assess the total damage due to rain across all the state run nine transport corporations.