Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has set a target of 90 per cent of direct tax recovery from the current demands, before the financial year ends on March 31, 2011. It plans to achieve this by making the recovery process more intense and harsh action against the defaulters.

As against a target of Rs 313 crore in property taxes, it has till now recovered Rs 215 crore. However of the actual demand of Rs 313 crore, Rs 90 crore are arrears and recoveries pending for years including interest of Rs 35 crore.

Sharad Mehta, assistant commissioner, finance, said, "Our performance will be better than last year. We will try to reach as close to the 90 per cent target as possible." Last year, against the demand of Rs 296 crore, the SMC had recovered Rs 216 crore as property taxes amounting to 74 per cent. "What is most heartening is that of the 13.50 lakh tax payers in the city, 10.22 lakh have already paid their dues to the civic body. Our attempt will be to reach all the tax payers before March 31."

The SMC has collected Rs 42 crore in professional tax till date and Rs 7.67 in vehicle tax. An auction of about 20 properties will be organised by it in central zone in mid-March for tax recovery.