Mysuru: Chief executive officer of zilla panchayat S Yukesh Kumar Wednesday directed officials to ensure 90% collection of this year’s taxes, including long-pending arrears, within 15 days. He warned that strict action would be recommended against officials who failed to meet the target without valid reasons.Chairing a video conference with executive officers of all taluk panchayats and panchayat development officers (PDOs) at the ZP auditorium, the IAS officer expressed displeasure over the slow pace of tax collection in several gram panchayats. He said this year’s tax collection must exceed last year’s. Gram panchayats that have achieved only 50-60% so far must compulsorily reach 90% within the stipulated period, he stressed.The CEO cautioned that poor tax collection would hamper staff salaries and essential services such as library maintenance. He directed PDOs and secretaries not to shift responsibility to bill collectors but to personally visit households to expedite collections. Taluk panchayat executive officers were instructed to review progress weekly.Expressing concern that some PDOs appeared indifferent to revenue collection, he warned that failure to meet the 90% target within 15 days would prompt recommendations for govt action.Pointing out that taluks with difficult terrain in other districts had achieved fee collection, he asked why similar results could not be achieved here and urged officials to focus on performance rather than excuses.On drinking water issues, he directed gram panchayats to work with rural drinking water supply department to address potential shortages proactively. Complaints must be resolved before they reach the media, failing which strict action would follow. He instructed officials to identify problem areas, prepare street-wise lists, and use taluk and ZP funds where gram panchayat grants were insufficient. Additional borewells and mini water supply units should be installed where required, and water samples must be tested once every 15 days, he added.
