New Corporations Can Keep Old Promises
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SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, CHENNAI * MARCH 26, 2017 TIMES CITY 5 Residents In Neighbourhoods Could Access Long-Due Civic Amenities No income tax on VRS New corporations can for staff of sick PSU: HC TIMES NEWS NETWORK TOI Once a public sector gi- ant with a monopoly in X-ray Chennai: In a significant ru- films market, HPF became a ling, the Madras high court white elephant since 1987 said the voluntary retire- when salary stagnated and keep old promises ment scheme (VRS) package, staff had either no or little C Suresh Kumar equal to salary for 72 months, work. A VRS package was re- Bay of Bengal Bay paid to willing employees of adied by the Cabinet Com- Tambaram (in pic), Avadi and Tentative map AT THE CENTRE Pallavaram are likely to get new Hindustan Photo Film (HPF) mittee on Economic Affairs corporations Manufacturing Company Li- DEFUNCT: Hindustan Photo which approved a proposal mited in Ooty was in the na- Films in Ooty has been a non- for providing non-plan bud- ture of compensation and no performing unit since 1987 getary support of `181.54 cro- GREATER income tax should be deduc- re for voluntary retirement ted. On their part, employees (10B) of the IT Act. Therefo- at the 2007 notional pay scale. AVADI accepting the package shall re, provisions of Section 10 The HPF Workers’ Welfa- CHENNAI A new CORPORATION vacate and hand over posses- (10B) of the Income Tax Act, re Centre termed VRS unfair corporation sion of the quarters within a 1961 are attracted and accor- and illegal. It sought pay- is welcome. month of the date on which dingly, the same shall not fall ment of 72 months’ salary on Facilities like they receive the monetary within the definition of inco- 2007 payscale to each emplo- underground benefits, the court said. me, while computing the to- yee, non-deduction of inco- sewerage and Justice T S Sivagnanam, tal income of concerned me tax on severance packa- St Thomas roads will concurring with the submis- employee and income tax ge, special performance allo- Mount improve sions of senior counsel R Va- cannot be deducted from the wance, adjustable advance Cantonment P Basavaiah, igai, said: “The benefit, severance package paid to paid to employees and per- RESIDENT, CTO COLONY TAMBARAM which will accrue to the emp- the employees of HPF.” mission for employees to oc- loyees, is in the nature of Quick to realise the ru- cupy staff quarters till May compensation, which is pur- ling could lead to other pub- 1, 2016 at the same rate of PALLAVARAM suant to a decision taken by lic sector undertakings pre- rent. CORPORATION the government of India spe- paring similar severance Contentious issues boi- Creating satellite cifically for the employees of packages for their employe- led down to 72 months’ sala- corporations is a [email protected] gineering professor at Anna University, HPF. Therefore, the amount es, counsel for the Centre sa- ry as severance package in- long pending issue. would be exempted from in- id the government of India stead of 60 months, exemp- said corporations will have better techni- The new corporation pen drains, overhead power cal knowledge for planning, designing come tax in terms of the first would appeal against it in tion from income tax and no should not delay in proviso under Section 10 the Supreme Court. eviction from the quarters. cables, dark alleys and a and execution of basic amenities such extending metrowater handful of staff struggling as water supply, underground sewer- and underground to solve a multitude of civic age system, liquid and solid waste TAMBARAM sewerage facilities complaints could be a thing management. “Development will be Avadi CORPORATION S Mohanram, Oof the past for residents of Avadi, Palla- regulated as constructions cannot be car- RESIDENT, PRAKASH NAGAR, Record haul as corporation varam and Tambaram as the government ried out in violation of building rules. 3 municipalities | Avadi, Poonamallee and THIRUNINDRAVUR is planning to create three independent The strength of officers will also increase Thirverkadu satellite municipal corporations adjoin- for addressing issues related to civic 1 town panchayat | Thirunindravur ` ing Chennai, headquartered in these amenities, leading to better quality of Tambaram collects 650cr property tax 11 village panchayats | Including Nemilichery, neighbourhoods. life,” he said. However, he noted people 2 municipalities | Tambaram Nazarethpet, Kattupakkam, Ayapakkam and TIMES NEWS NETWORK 10% from the last year’s fig- in the first week of demon- If the proposal gets through, people may have to shell out more towards prop- and Sembakkam in places which are yet to see basic amen- erty tax and water tax. Vanagaram ures. And with five more etisation, we collected over 4 town panchayats | Chennai: ` ities could have piped water supply, street Real estate may see an upswing in the Wards | 80-100 (proposed) The city corpora- days to go before the end of 25 crore in property tax. We Perungalathur, tion has netted a record in the financial year, officials were able to clear a signifi- lights and motorable roads. For instance, long term. According to Kanchana Area | 148 sqkm areas falling under the juris- Krishnan, director, Knight Peerkankaranai, property tax collection for expect to add on to these cant portion of the arrears Frank (India) Pvt. Ltd, real Population | 6.12 lakh Madambakkam and fiscal 2016-17 with more than numbers by a sizeable mar- as well within 15 days (of the diction of Avadi Municipality WHAT’S ` estate price in Chennai in- Chitlapakkam 650 crore earned so far,. gin. “We expect to collect an- announcement),” an official are covered by underground IN STORE ` sewerage system. A munici- creases gradually and over a Pallavaram 7 village panchayats | According to revenue de- other 20 crore property tax. said. Including Agaramthen, partment officials of the civ- The last two days are frantic Unlike the previous year, pal corporation will ensure period of time. “Infrastruc- 3 municipalities | Anakaputhur, Pallavaram Medavakkam, Vengaivasal, ic body, the city’s 11.70 lakh usually because assessees revenue officials also people living in villages within its ambit ture and connectivity are two major fac- and Pammal tors that influence growth of any city. Mudichur and assessees have contributed a turn up in huge numbers to steered clear of controver- access to it. ` Formation of new municipal corpora- This in turn will result in creation of new 1 village panchayat | Cowl Bazzar Varadharajapuram little more than 654 crore so pay their dues,” said a corpo- sies when attempting to get tions would mean more funds from vari- residential pockets. So appreciation of far, enabling the corporation ration official. large sum defaulters to pay ous financial institutions in the state land will happen gradually in the medi- What it means for residents to surpass its property tax Despite a setback during up. Last year, officials in- government and the Centre. “Municipal um to long term,” she said. collection target for the year. cyclone Vardah, officials volved transgender people corporations get a better share from the Though residents are enthused about Better amenities | Corporation can plan, design and execute The sum collected so far also said they “worked hard”, al- who played drums or the new proposal, some said authorities basic amenities like water supply, underground sewerage represents an increase of though there was staff short- dumped garbage at the door- government. Loans can be availed for Flip side ` ` infrastructure-related projects,” an offi- should not delay in providing civic amen- system, liquid and solid waste management better around 70 crore from the age, to meet the target of 650 step of business establish- cial said. Municipal corporations open ities. While welcoming the move, S Mo- Effective implementation | More manpower to Property and last year. crore set in the local body’s ments or residences to call the window for a slew of services includ- hanram, a resident of Thirunindravur, address civic amenities water tax will Together with profes- budget document. Mean- upon attention to the defaul- ing improved sanitation. Like those liv- said some areas in Ambattur Municipal- increase sional tax revenue, which while, the central govern- ter. These measures proved Development | Regulated and planned development in crossed the `240-crore mark, ment’s move to demonetise unpopular and attracted ing within Greater Chennai Corporation, ity are yet to get underground sewerage terms of constructing buildings will take place people in the new corporations may have system and metrowater facilities even the collection is a significant high value currencies in No- criticism for the local body. More value | Real estate prices will appreciate in long term access to corporation-run hospitals and after five years of merging with Greater increase in revenue generat- vember 2016 also came as a “We served them with no- schools, online services and upgraded Chennai Corporation. “Such glitches Quicker transport | Corporation can augment transport facilities ed by the local body. The pro- blessing in disguise for the tices and judiciously fol- fessional tax collected so far corporation. lowed up all cases we could,” technology to resolve civic issues. should not happen in the proposed new Welfare | Corporation-run hospitals and schools may come up K P Subramanian, former urban en- corporations,” he said. is an increase of more than “In a two-day period with- a senior official said. At 263, TN to send Probe found illegal custody, torture CITY DIGEST was conferred by Madura Welcome, Poll officials meet to a tourist guide book company, in From P 1 While the revenue divisional offi- ishment when he was informed that association with Incredible India, cer gave a finding that there were the ADGP’s report was pending with discuss procedures most teams to 36-hr Ministry of Tourism, Government of is family of aged father, wife contusions which might have been the government, and that the district More than 1,600 polling personnel India.