The bill generation machine. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 14: In an attempt to computerise the collection of holding tax, mayor Ananta Narayan Jena will launch handheld devices tomorrow in ward No. 11.

A house owner will now be able to pay holding tax dues already fed in the machine according to the house or holding number.

Once the payment is made and the receipt generated, the machine will send an electronic message to the server at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office.

On a pilot basis, the online collection of holding tax will begin in ward No. 11. The ward includes Patia, Chandrasekharpur, Gadakana, Rangamatia, VSS Nagar and Jayadev Vihar.

The device has a touch screen and a miniature keyboard. Its use will reduce human errors, corruption and in turn will increase efficiency and performance of the tax collectors. The hand-held devices will be GPS-enabled and therefore, collection time, place and transaction details will get transferred to the BMC main server instantly.

Deputy commissioner of the municipal corporation Srimanta Mishra said the devices would generate receipts with details of the payments. The receipts will bear the name of the tax collector and his mobile number so that in case of any doubt, the holding tax payee can contact the person concerned.

However, the online payment of holding tax through the municipal body’s website will be delayed as the e-gateway to facilitate banking transactions through the Jan Seva Kendras and the online system of the state government are yet to become functional. All these are to be integrated to make the service fruitful. “Once the e-gateway is ready, the online holding tax payment through the website or the online system of the state government can be made,” said a senior civic official.

The use of the hand-held devices to collect holding tax is part of the e-municipality initiative by the housing and urban development department. Tata Consultancy Services is executing the project. Once the pilot project rolls out, it will be replicated in other areas of the city.

Secretary of Prachi Enclave Residents’ Welfare Association Chandramani Behera said: “The use of the hand-held devices will help reduce revenue leakage as in many cases, tax officials collect less amount after getting gratification from the holding owner.”