HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) collected more than Rs 1,500 Crore from 11,73,218 taxpayers in property tax this financial year even after the State was hit by the COVID-19 induced pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

As per reports published in Telangana Today, this is the first time in GHMC history that such a huge amount was collected so far, and it hopes to achieve a target of Rs 1,900 crore by the end of April financial year. Last year the GHMC collected Rs 1,400 crore.

Those who fail to remit the tax before March 31 will be levied a penalty of 24 per cent of the amount they have to pay before the deadline.

The rise in property tax payment is attributed to the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme implemented by the Telangana State Government across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), which allows a waiver of 90 per cent of accumulated interest arrears on property tax upon clearing the entire arrears in one go. The OTS scheme will be closed on March 31, said DS Lokesh Kumar, GHMC Commissioner and requested all citizens to avail the offer and also pay the current year tax dues.

The GHMC is offering the Early Bird scheme discount benefit of a 5 per cent rebate to those paying property tax for 2021-22 starting April 1. This advantage was offered to property owners whose demand amount was less than Rs 30,000 and only for residential properties. The government has now extended it to commercial properties in 2020-21 across all ULBs.

The property tax can be paid at all municipal circle offices, citizen service centres, via online modes, e-Seva centres and also to bill collectors.

Meanwhile, the liquor sales also come to the rescue of the Telangana State Government and earned huge revenues post the lockdown and slowdown of the State economy. As per reports, liquor sales stood at Rs 24,814 Crore from April 1, 2020, to February 28 this year. Out of this, the excise department earned over Rs 15,000 Crore after the VAT reduction.

Also Read: Liquor Sales Bring Rs 15,000 Crore Cheers To Telangana Exchequer