Poor revenue collection by ULBs irks Minister

'If situation fails to improve by Jan then officials will be suspended'

Minister for Municipal Administration and Wakf Qamarul Islam on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the poor revenue collection by urban local bodies in Chikkamagaluru district.  The recovery of water bill dues, property tax and rents from ULB properties was unsatisfactory, he said.

Speaking at a review meeting here, he said that if the revenue collection does not improve by January, then officials concerned will be suspended. The total revenue collection in ULBs in the district is only 0.29 per cent. He directed Deputy Commissioner to issue notices to the authorities concerned seeking explanation for the poor revenue collection.

The revenue collection in the district is poor. If advertising policy is implemented, then the revenue collection will improve.

Expressing displeasure over the revenue collection, the Minister said officers concerned has been directed to expedite revenue collection, including rental dues from shops and other properties owned by the ULBs.  The ULBs have not maintained document on the revenue dues to be collected.

Only 40 per cent of the water bill dues in Chikkamagaluru CMC has been collected. In Birur TMC—11 per cent, Mudigere Town Panchayat—13 per cent, Kadur TMC—25 per cent, Koppa town panchayat—32 per cent, Sringeri town panchayat—33 per cent, and Narasimharajapura—38 per cent of the water bill dues have been collected.

The Minister said that ULBs will be strengthened by filling the vacant posts. The post of engineers, health inspectors and environment engineers have been filled through KPSC.

The Minister said that under Nagarothana scheme, 84 works worth Rs 67 crore have been taken up. About 31 works have been completed.

Twelve works are in progress. The work on asphaltation of roads are in progress and will be completed within two months.

There are 160 hostels for minority students. Of which, 50 hostels have own buildings, he added.

MLA G H Srinivas, MLC Gayatri Shanthe Gowda, Deputy Commissioner B S Shekarappa and ZP CEO Priyanka Mary Francis were present.