Record recovery of elec tax in current financial year: Gupta

New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) Chairman of the Standing Committee of the MCD Vijender Gupta today said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has made record recovery of electricity tax during the current financial year.

The recovery of electricity tax in Delhi this year will touch an all time high figure of Rs 429 crores following the settlement of dispute between the DISCOMS and the MCD.

While an amount of Rs 200 crore from BSES and Rs 60 crore from NDPL payable till date has already been received, it has been promised by DISCOMS that they shall be releasing the remaining balance of Rs 169 crores as and when it becomes due.

This, in total, the MCD will receive total payment of Rs 429 crores on account of electricity tax during the current financial year.

''It is a matter of great satisfaction that MCD has been able to resolve the long outstanding dispute with DISCOMS with regard to payment of electricity tax since their coming into existence in 2002,''Mr Gupta said and expressed confidence that now onwards the DISCOMS will continue to make the payment on regular basis as when it becomes due, thereby keeping the payment position on rails.

He said the MCD has also made a record recovery of arrears payable on account of electricity tax during the period 2002-2007.

Mr Gupta said that the very fact that MCD had recovered only Rs 182 crores as electricity tax during the last financial year ie 2006-2007 and it has been able to muster Rs 429 crores during the current financial year marks the dramatic turn around in the recovery of electricity tax.

''It has been made possible due to the recent pressure built upon by MCD upon the DISCOMS,''he said.

Lamenting that the BSES companies had been conducting themselves in a highly undesirable manner unbefitting their image, Mr Gupta said,''their sole purpose so far has been to manipulate the situation in such a manner so as to make the recovery impossible by confusing the whole issue for no rhyme or reason. It was done notwithstanding the fact that they already collect the tax from consumers and they had no moral right to withhold the statutory payment due to MCD. They kept on adopting unethical practices to delay the subsequent release of payment to MCD.'' Warning DISCOMS to desist from such delaying tactics, he said the MCD would come down heavily on DISCOMS in case they do not change their behaviour as responsible companies.

He said the MCD planned to approach the Delhi Electricity regulatory authority to highlight the arbitrary behaviour of the DISCOMs.

There was also a plan to present a report on the same to the Delhi Lt Governor, he said.

UNI AR AM BD2023