The system offered by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will faciliate, in phases, the speedy collection of property tax through treasury counters at KMC headquarters.
Developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) under KMC's capacity-building programme assisted by DFID, the system will substitute the former stand-alone Fox Pro-based operations. DFID has provided Rs 200 crore as aid for the system.
The e-governance system is already in operation with civic bodies in Delhi, Hyderabad and Kochi.
Inaugurating the system, Development and Planning Minister Nirupam Sen said the system would be gradually taken to gram panchayats.
"This will help remove harassment of tax-payers, ensure administrative transparency and speed up accuracy and efficiency with the help of the latest information technology," Sen said.
Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said KMC employees were being trained in e-governance for applications in areas like building plans and issuing birth and death certificates and trade licences.
Quelle/Source: The Hindu, 04.04.2007
