The mascot -- a man wearing the Chennai Corporation emblem on his chest -- has been named Vari Kumar (Tax Kumar). “Vari Kumar will be our messenger to reach out to Chennaiites on matters related to property, profession taxes and trade licence,” Chennai Corporation Deputy Commissioner Meghanath Reddy said in his Twitter post.

Reddy also said in the post that Vari Kumar has no worries as he pays his property tax without any delay. “He even got five per cent incentive by paying tax before October 15 and avoided 2 per cent interest,”the post added.

The civic body had recently passed a resolution to impose 2 per cent penalty with interest on property owners who fail to pay the property tax between April 1 to April 15 and October 1 to October 15. An order has also been issued to provide five per cent incentive (not exceeding Rs. 5,000) if they pay the taxes before April 15 and October 15.