Rs 8 cr earned from land diversion fee

THE DISTRICT administration made record recovery of more than Rs 8.40 crore as land diversion fee in 2005-06. This is against Rs 6.64 crore recovered in the last financial year.

THE DISTRICT administration made record recovery of more than Rs 8.40 crore as land diversion fee in 2005-06. This is against Rs 6.64 crore recovered in the last financial year.

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Indore Development Authority emerged as major benefactor that chucked out Rs 1.10 crore as diversion fee to the administration without making a fuss. City’s leading land developers, too, cleared their dues this time.

Nevertheless, some leading institutions evaded dues. Of the top eight diversion fee defaulters, Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidyalaya (DAVV) occupies the second highest position. The dues to be paid by the University stand at Rs 60.71 lakh. The biggest defaulter is MP Housing Board with Rs 90 lakh while Western Regional Electricity Distribution Company is required to pay Rs 14.45 lakh.

Diversion fee pending against St Paul Higher Secondary School is Rs 40.50 lakh. A sum of Rs 7 lakh is pending against State Bank of Indore, Rs 15 lakh against Life Insurance Corporation and Rs 2 lakh against Mandi Samiti.

Another major nonpayer is MP Wakf Board with an outstanding Rs 22 lakh. Indore Municipal Corporation has to pay Rs 4 lakh. Official figures indicate that arrears worth Rs 3.75 crore were to be recovered on April 1, 2005. This included diversion fee of Rs 3.30 crore, premium of Rs 9.38 lakh and Rs 36.35 lakh as panchayat cess.

Even as the recovery process steamrolled, authorities stayed the recovery against three defaulters. Choithram Higher Secondary School obtained a stay from Revenue Board, St Paul HSS from the court of Additional Divisional Commissioner and LIC from the judicial court.

Stamp and Registration Fee:
The collection of stamp duty and registration fee is likely to touch Rs 225 crore mark in 2005-06 in the district. The office of District Registrar, which remained open till well past 11 pm today raked in Rs 10 crore yesterday. Fearing hike in stamp and registration fee from April 1, long queues of property purchasers could be seen at the office till late tonight.

Although the exact figures will be available tomorrow, District Registrar N S Tomar said that his office expects to receive
Rs 10-12 crore today.

Likewise, the district has topped in the sale of stamps in the State. District Treasury office sold stamps worth Rs 60 crore this month while the total sales in 2005-06 is likely to cross Rs 200 crore.