Tax Defaulters To Be Notified Within A Week: Suresh Kumar
He conducted a thorough state-level review with all municipal commissioners via video conference on Saturday.
Vijayawada:Principal Secretary of the municipal administration and urban development, S. Suresh Kumar, announced that his department is launching a comprehensive initiative to enforce financial discipline in urban local bodies and take strong action against tax defaulters.
He conducted a thorough state-level review with all municipal commissioners via video conference on Saturday. Suresh Kumar emphasised the importance of urban local bodies (ULBs) focusing on bridging critical infrastructure gaps, particularly those not addressed by existing centrally or externally funded schemes. He noted that the financial health report and the renewed emphasis on core urban services reflect a shift towards evidence-based planning and spending at the municipal level. The principal secretary also explained that the pending dues owed by central government institutions amount to ₹1,680 crore, while those owed by state government institutions total ₹962 crore. Additionally, the outstanding dues for vacant land tax are ₹1,860 crore, and the dues related to court cases stand at ₹978 crore.
Suresh Kumar highlighted significant underperformance in property tax collection, particularly from central and state institutions. He issued strong instructions to all commissioners to send out notices within a week. Additionally, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must notify all defaulters in the same timeframe, clearly indicating outstanding dues and invoking statutory provisions that empower ULBs to recover these taxes. Suresh Kumar emphasised the need for public disclosure of the names of properties that are in default, signaling the beginning of a strict enforcement regime.
The top five state government property tax defaulters are Kalyanadurgam AP Transco 132KV Yard - ₹2.56 crore, Cheemakurthy AP Social Welfare Gurukula Patasala - ₹1.34 crore, Peddapuram executive director, S.C. Corporation, Kakinada - ₹0.27 crore, Cheemakurthy mandal revenue office - ₹0.26 crore and Darsi electrical substation office building - ₹0.25 crore. Similarly, the top five central government property tax defaulters are Vacant Land, Rastriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (VSP) - ₹778 crore, non-residential of Rastriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (VSP) - ₹584 crore, non-residential Development Commissioner, VSEZ - ₹33 crore, non-residential Visakhapatnam Port Trust - ₹22 crore and non-residential South Central Railway, Vijayawada - ₹13.51 crore.
The principal secretary has instructed officials to identify and list both tax defaulters and properties that are not currently in the tax net. Notice boards will be placed at the property sites, warning that continued default could lead to stringent action in accordance with ULB statutory powers.
