‘Band Baaja’ Team Collects Rs 1.17 Crore Tax Within 8 Hours

[JANASENA]

When tax payers default, there is generally a series of attempts to rectify the situation on behalf of the government and further attempts at evasion on behalf of the defaulting party, with variable results.

Sanjeev Jaiswal, Civic Commissioner, Thane Municipal Corporation, came up with a novel, amusingly eccentric, yet strikingly effective strategy to retrieve dues of around ₹80 crore from the tax evaders.

A band baaja plan was formulated, wherein procession bands accompanied by teams from the TMC ward office visited localities of defaulters in Mumbra, Shil, Kausa and Diva.

The drive was initiated on 28 January. The aim being to shame and humiliate the evaders, and therefore, compel them to pay the tax defaulted upon. In a short period of just eight hours, the processions managed to retrieve ₹1.17 crore.

In addition, 285 commercial units were sealed. And the water supply to 38 structures was shut down after the residents displayed unwillingness to pay the water taxes.