Chalo Singapore

The scheme was modified by the civic administration on Monday. “Along with hotel stay,the 15 lucky families will also get food for free. The daily cost of food for a family in Singapore comes to around Rs 3,000,” said PCMC assistant municipal commissioner Shahaji Pawar. Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said the scheme was modified in a bid to make it more popular and rope in additional tax payers in the net.

The PCMC’s objective behind introducing the scheme was to reduce arrears and increase revenue. “Now that a fabulous incentive is on offer,I am sure a large number of citizens will come forward to pay their property tax as well as the arrears,” Sharma said. The PCMC has decided to spend over Rs 15 lakh on financing the citizens’ trip to Singapore. But how is this going to help PCMC generate revenue? “We expect to garner Rs 20-25 crore by August 30. We will keep this amount in a bank,earning interest at 12 per cent. By this,we will get at least Rs 20 lakh interest per month. If we keep it the bank for seven months till March 31,we will earn around Rs 1.40 crore. So losing Rs 15 lakh is not a big deal,” said Pawar.

Sharma said the draw of lots will be held before citizens. “There will be complete transparency. There will be no partiality of any sort since the draw of lots will be held publicly. Any citizen of Pimpri-Chinchwad,whoever he or she may be,who pays the property tax along with the arrears before August 31 is eligible for the scheme,” the PCMC chief said. Sharma said the PCMC is the first civic body in the state to introduce such a step.

Pawar said every year,PCMC gets Rs 90 crore from property tax. “This year,the target is Rs 150 crore. We hope to make citizens pay up their arrears. The new scheme is directed at that end,” Pawar said.