Lockdown hits revenue collection of Amritsar Municipal Corporation

Amritsar, May 17

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The Covid-19 lockdown has hit the revenue collection of the Municipal Corporation, posing finical challenges for the civic body. However, the MC has resumed its development works in the city.

At a recent meeting with councillors, Mayor Karamajit Singh Rintu said all development works would be resumed and some of the projects would be inaugurated. The Mayor said tenders for development works were floated before the outbreak of the coronavirus and now, the work would be initiated.

On Saturday, the Mayor inaugurated re-carpeting of the Majitha road.

During the lockdown, residents have the option of paying taxes and bills online, but many did not pay their dues. MC staff involved in recovering pending dues were performing Covid-related duties. Therefore, recovery of taxes suffered.

As the government is now going to lift the curfew and give several relaxations in the lockdown, MC officials are planning to focus on the recovery of tax.

“In this time of crisis, our main focus is on providing the undisrupted supply of potable water and other essential services. Sanitation was our priority to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Now, we will ask the staff to make efforts to collect revenue,” said Nitish Singla, MC Joint Commissioner.

The state government had announced rebate on the one-time settlement of property tax and water sewerage bills before the outbreak of Covid-19. The MC staff were expecting good recovery of taxes. — TNS