Automated billing machines to end irregularities

For the first time in the State, automated billing machines are being introduced for collection of bills in four grama panchayats in Chamarajanagar district, on an experimental basis.

It is said that misuse of funds by a bill collector is the reason behind the new system. R Raju, who was a bill collector in Kannur GP, in Kollegal taluk, is alleged of misusing the money collected from the people. Interestingly, he had made the GP president as his partner in crime, by funding his expenses.

The alleged irregularities had happened during 2013-14, after collecting Rs 1,000 he had mentioned only Rs 132 in the GP book. When a shortage was found in the collection of money, followed by regular complaints from the public, the Zilla Panchayat initiated a probe and the bill collector was exposed.

Raju had also given Rs 45,000 to GP president Srikantamurthy and had also taken signatures from him. A copy of a similar signature from the GP secretary too was found.

In all, Raju had collected Rs 2,24,740 tax during the year 2012-13 and 2013-14, but had remitted only Rs 1.58 lakh and had misused the remaining amount.

But, after several complaints, it is said that he remitted the difference amount to the bank.
However, ZP CEO K H Narasimhamurthy dismissed him from service.

Now, four GPs — Yaraganahalli of Chamarajanagar taluk, Kabbahalli of Gundlupet taluk, Hondarabalu of Kollegal taluk and Agara GP of Yalandur taluk — have been selected and the billing machines introduced. It would be introduced in the remaining 116 panchayats in phases.

With the help of technology, all details of the assessment numbers, owner’s name, bill amount, and others would be fed into the machine. Each machine has a capacity of recording 2,000 assesments.