Taxing time for Mumbaikars

It was a red-letter day for all Mumbaikars. Their favourite cricketer Sachin''s gifted red Ferrari finally hit the potholed Mumbai roads. It was a moment of pride for all Indians, but more so for Mumbaikars. It felt as if they had won the award with their own efforts.
But some saw red too. As bright red as that of the colour of the sports car. And suddenly controversy gathered around the Ferrari, faster than even the posh car can travel.The issue was the Union government''s decision to waive the import duty on Sachin''s car. The matter was taken before judiciary and the court issued notice to Sachin in this regard.
The general opinion is that the cricketer should pay the duty since he can afford it, also since it is for his personal use. But there is also a school of thought, though in minority, which feels that a person like Sachin who has scored runs at par with cricketing legend Don Bradman, should be accorded special treatment. And there is nothing wrong in giving him duty exemption.
Interestingly, there is a third school of thought, which feels that Sachin should definitely pay the duty but it is wrong to charge 102 per cent tax. The tax rate should be reduced for everyone.
Sachin must have been relieved when Fiat agreed to pay the duty. But his pleasure was short lived. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now decided to raise the octroi on Ferrari to Rs 5-lakh. The BMC had already charged Rs 3.4 lakhs on the original cost of the car. But if the duty is paid, Sachin will have to pay additional octroi of about Rs 5 lakh on that amount too.
As if all this was not enough, he had to further contribute Rs 100 as fine for the delay in registering the vehicle with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). According to the rules, Sachin should have registered the vehicle within seven days. But Sachin is yet to to complete the formalities. After all this Sachin must have realised what the renowned English economist John Keynes once said, "The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward."
When affordability is not a problem, a person like Sachin should know and understand what his tax money can do to the nation. Some road contractors have now started putting sign boards stating "Your taxes are at work" on construction sites. Mumbaikars are experiencing the results of avoidance of tax payments by the people and more so of the mismanagement of finances by the government.
Maharashtra Government''s coffers are so empty that it does not even have money to pay telephone bills. As a result telephone lines of some police stations have been disconnected. The government has already imposed fuel-rationing on police station vehicles. The result is thus: police cannot be approached by citizens in case of emergency for want of working telephone line. And even if police come to know of some incident, they cannot reach the spot for want of fuel.
This could prove dangerous as Ganesh festival is approaching now. But, who bothers about it? The government has no time to look into such small matters. By this approach, the government is putting the Mumbaikars at a big risk.
On seeing the precarious condition of the state finances -- the same is applicable to BMC also as far as city is concerned -- if citizens stop paying taxes till they get returns in the form of good service imagine what difficulty the government and the corporation would face. State and civic authorities should keep this in mind, or else the masses will start justifying exemption and non-payment of tax. Not only by Sachin but also by everybody.