THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the City Corporation is wracking its brains to tap its various sources of income, which seems reluctant to fall into its pocket, one single step could hold its finances from taking that steep dip - collect the large amount of dues pending by way of property tax. Easier said than done, with the defaulters being prominent names, establishments and offices. The special audit report on tax relaxations prepared by the Local Fund Audit Department points out that jails, hospitals, banks and a lot of social organisations enjoy the zero tax status, way out of the norms put in place by the Municipality Act. A large number of social organisations and party offices, including the various NSS ‘karayogams’, Nair Union hostels, SNDP auditorium, YWCA and offices of CPM, Kerala Congress (B), Kerala NGO Association, Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi and Government Servants’ Society are among those which have been exempted from tax, the audit report says. As many as 52 buildings between the TC numbers 17/2219 and 17/2270 have been listed under the title ‘Jail quarters’ and have been exempted from tax for unknown reasons. The Commissioner office and as many as 120 buildings which have separate TC numbers in the Central Jail have been enjoying tax privileges. The same appears true for hospitals, with the audit report pointing out that the SAT Hospital, Mother and Baby Hospital and Taluk Hospital, Peroorkada are among those which have not been asked to pay taxes by the local body. In the case of some hospitals like the Health Centre for Mental Care, Peroorkada, tax has been slapped for a certain period, but the rest of time they has been given tax relaxation. When it comes to the list of banks, not just the cooperative banks are seen enjoying the zero tax status, but even private banks like the ICICI Bank are in the list which has been criticised by the audit report. It points out that the government has made it clear that banks do not fall under the category of those who have been exempted from property tax. It points out that the Reserve Bank buildings have been exempted from tax, whereas the employees’ quarters of the apex bank have been slapped property tax. The audit report says that as per the new rules, the Corporation can collect tax from the defaulters for the last four years only. Which means, the dues pending from 2006 could be calculated and collected, for which notices could be served.
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