GHMC's dirty trick to force tax defaulters to pay

HYDERABAD: To humiliate and shame the big property tax defaulters, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has put up huge garbage bins in front of their buildings and shopping complexes in different parts of the city.

The garbage bins would not be lifted till they come forward and pay the property tax dues. The garbage bins are creating nuisance among the people coming to shopping and commercial complexes because of foul smell emanating from the bins.

Garbage bins are installed in front of those shopping complexes and commercial building whose property tax dues ranges from Rs 1 lakh to over Rs 10 lakh and even more.

In the coming days, more such garbage bins will be put up in front of the buildings and complexes of property tax defaulters till the dues are realised, GHMC officials said.

Last year, GHMC erected flexi banners of top property tax defaulters with dues running into lakhs at busy areas of the twin cities. Names of the defaulters, along with their property tax index number (PTIN), house number, locality name and the outstanding amount, have been displayed at public places. GHMC requested the tax payers to pay property tax on or before March 31, otherwise GHMC would be forced to seize their moveable properties as per provisions of the GHMC Act.

GHMC officials admitted that they have temporarily put up garbage bins in front of the buildings and shopping complexes to exert pressure on the defaulters to pay the tax dues.

Some 40 to 50 garbage bins were put up in different circles of the GHMC and more would come up. A few of them were put up on Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda, Karwan and other places.

The corporation is not pressuring the defaulters to pay the full amount. They can pay in instalments. If they pay some portion of the dues right now and remaining in instalments, GHMC will shift the garbage bins immediately from the site, officials said.

Some top tax defaulters are now holding talks with the deputy municipal commissioners (DMCs). Some have come forward to pay some amount of the dues immediately while remaining dues in instalments.

For 2014-15, GHMC has fixed a target to collect Rs 1,400 crore. So far it collected up to Rs 700 crore. The remaining amount has to be collected before March 31 and GHMC is making all attempts to meet the target in the next one-and-half months, they added.