Despite being busy with poll duty, employees of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have already crossed last year’s property tax collection figures of Rs 747-crore.

Tax collections in the city crossed the Rs 750-crore mark on Saturday and now the officials have been given a target of Rs1,000 crore mark for the first time in the history of the city. To date, over nine lakh of the total 13 lakh property owners have paid their taxes.

Special teams have been formed to collect tax from defaulters. GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar has identified 2.02 lakh owners who have paid their tax in full in the previous financial year but have paid only a portion of tax for the current year. If these 2.02 lakh owners pay their balance tax for the current financial year, the GHMC will get another Rs 247 crore. There are 50,000 owners yet to pay tax ranging below Rs 500 each.

“We are confident of collecting nearly Rs1,000 crore and this would mean that our employees have to collect Rs 250crore in less than a week before the end of the financial year on March 31,” Mr Kumar said.

About 1,700 employees and workers have been drafted to collect tax with each worker covering at least 200 houses. The bill collectors are also negotiating with those who have not paid at all.