Non-tax revenues: CAG corners 5 corporations

Jaipur: The dismal functioning of municipal corporations (MCs) in the state and their inability to tap non-tax revenues were highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report on local bodies tabled in the assembly on Friday.
Municipal corporations Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota had failed miserably in achieving financial targets, said the report, which had audited the records of all corporations from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
Non-tax revenue comprises income earned from fees levied on marriage venues, mobile towers, advertisements, sale of land and conversion charges, among others.
As per the audit report, Ajmer, Bikaner and Kota had identified 449 marriage venues for registration, but 341 of them were not registered by the civic body, resulting in a loss of over Rs 1 crore.
Those that were registered by corporations had also deposited lower utilization charges.
Pointing out the financial inefficiency of MCs, the CAG noted that in Kota only five trade licences were issued between 2012-13 and 2013-14 though 952 properties were given out for rent for commercial establishments. "No action was taken to levy licence fee from tenants of these shops," the report said.
Similarly, the four civic bodies in Ajmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Kota could levy only Rs 1.35 crore from cellular companies for installing 536 mobile towers when Rs 2.95 crore was due.
The CAG also noted that the entire process of collecting non-tax revenue, from assessment to sending notices and actual levy, was in a poor shape, resulting in huge arrears and loss of revenue.