RTO sleuths recover Rs 15.5 lakh

VADODARA, Feb 3: Regional Transport Office (RTO) sleuths here realised a sum of Rs. 15.48 lakh as motor vehicle tax in January 1999 from owners of 187 luxury buses and trucks who had been evading tax.

During a special drive launched to detect vehicles plying without payment of MV tax for the last two months, the department realised a sum of Rs. 21.46 lakh from 239 other vehicles during December 1998. Another sum of Rs. 1.46 lakh was realised from two luxury buses aloneGRQ 8495 and GRQ 9912in the same month.

A total of 14 vehicles including three luxury buses, seven trucks and four autorickshaws have been seized for non-payment of taxes.

In an appeal on Wednesday, Regional Transport Officer M K Hemavat asked the vehicle owners to deposit their tax due till February 15 with one per cent interest as penalty. He said the department would initiate stern steps against those not complying with the instructions and that might lead to confiscation of defaulters vehicles.