Raids to monitor property tax returns

Punjab local bodies minister Anil Joshi on Wednesday empowered the department's chief engineers to initiate raids to check malpractices in the depositing of property tax across the state.

Punjab local bodies minister Anil Joshi on Wednesday empowered the department's chief engineers to initiate raids to check malpractices in the depositing of property tax across the state.

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The minister, at the department's internal meeting here, said the chief engineers would not need any formal complaint to raid the premises of any regional local government office in the state as this would help check corrupt practices aimed at favouring individuals for property tax evasion, a spokesman said here.

Expressing serious concern over the mushrooming of illegal colonies in the state, Joshi said the executive officers concerned of the local bodies would be held responsible for any upcoming illegal colony in their jurisdiction.

Joshi clarified that residents could only claim 10% rebate on the payment of property tax till December 31, 2013, and this date would not be extended in any case. He appealed to people to furnish genuine information while depositing property tax.

He also instructed officers to constitute a committee to scrutinise the information filed by residents in this regard.