SCB collecting revised taxes before approval

HYDERABAD: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board divisional officers who have been deputed to collect the octroi and toll tax are collecting taxes according to the new revised tax rates though it is not implemented officially. The new revised taxes rates are supposed to be implemented from November.The SCB had taken the toll and octroi tax collection job in June from private contractors who were  cheating by over-charging and revised the rates in August. But the SCB started taking new rates from the public before it is approved officially.“Though the SCB is taking revised  rates, still it is in deficit of Rs. 7 lakh per month as its expenditure is Rs. 20 lakh and monthly revenues just Rs. 13 lakh,” said S Balakrishna, the chief executive officer of SCB.Balakrishna agreed the SCB is charging revised toll and octroi taxes because the old rates are very less than present market rates.After 37 years, the SCB revised octroi and toll tax in first week of August, according to the present rates of the goods. The SCB collects octroi on various articles brought into or passing through its jurisdiction, while it takes toll tax on vehicles for using its roads and other infrastructure.At present the SCB is collecting Rs.3 per quintal (grains of all sorts) while the old rate was 30 paise per quintal, Rs. 1 per litre for wine and spirits, Rs. 10 per quintal for ghee (old rate Rs. 4.50), Rs. 10 per tonne of cement (Rs. 1 per tonne), Rs. 1 per kg for tea (old rate eight paise) and Rs. 10 per quintal for dates (Rs. 1.50). Any article brought or passing through the Cantonment area by vehicle attracts toll tax of Rs. 20.There are 12 check posts in the SCB area. For collection of octroi and toll tax, 36 divisional officers and 144 class-IV employees have been deputed at check posts.