The new software for online assessment and payment of house and water taxes has resulted in impressive tax collection for the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC). Chief Tax Assessment Officer of PMC, PK Dwivedi, stated that as of September 2024, the corporation had collected approximately Rs 530 million from 1.2 lakh houses, compared to Rs 360 million from the previous year's collection up to the same period. This marked an increase of about Rs 170 million in tax revenue. He also mentioned that this year, 2.23 lakh houses had been identified for house tax, whereas last year the number was 1.61 lakh.
In 2023, the total tax collected by the PMC amounted to Rs 1.04 billion. Additionally, the PMC extended the deadline for the 10 per cent rebate on house and water taxes until October 31.
In another significant decision during the PMC executive meeting, the work to repair roads and make them pothole-free before the upcoming festivals was announced. The roads will undergo regular inspections, and reports will be submitted to the relevant officials. Mayor Ganesh Kesarwani chaired the meeting, during which several proposals were approved. To address the issue of waterlogging, the PMC decided to undertake drain cleaning work on its own.
It was also decided that tax would not be collected in the Naini Industrial Area. Fifty-four Gram Samaj lands or government lands in the extended areas have been identified for construction work for the corporation, but tax collection in the Naini Industrial Area would be handled by BNS instead of PMC.
A proposal was passed to hold regular cultural programs on the major ghats of Ganga-Yamuna to promote tourism, with a detailed action plan to be prepared in future meetings. Furthermore, it was decided to provide walkie-talkie sets to 80 officers and plant 40,000 saplings across 1.25 hectare in Ustapur, Jhunsi. In other key decisions, the removal of obscene advertisements at intersections and the replacement of damaged wires after inspection were also approved.
