The Hindu 09.11.2010
Bring all types of property under tax net: Kodgi
Special Correspondent
| ‘It is improper not to collect taxes for want of proper documents' |
Making a point:The Chairman of the Task Force for Implementation of Recommendations of the Third Finance Commission, A.G. Kodgi (right), at a meeting in Shimoga on Monday.
SHIMOGA: The Chairman of the Task Force for Implementation of Recommendations of the Third State Finance Commission, A.G. Kodgi, said on Monday that all types of property came under the tax net, and it was improper not to collect taxes just for want of proper documents.
He was interacting with the staff and members of the Shimoga City Municipal Council (CMC) here on the recommendations of the commission. It was not right to keep a few types of property outside the tax purview. “It is nothing but injustice” he said.
He said that it was the responsibility of the officials concerned to identify various types of property and bring them under the tax net. Civic bodies would suffer a serious financial set back if there were anomalies in the categorisation of various types of property for imposition and collection of tax.
Mr. Kodgi said that lack of documents and records should not be an excuse for collection of property tax. According to a rough estimate, there was evasion of property tax of Rs. 7,000 crore every year in the limits of civic bodies. Various types of property worth Rs. 1,500 crore had not been brought under the tax net by the Brahut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
He said that construction of a house or a building should not be allowed without licence. The civic officials should impress upon the elected representatives the need to ensure proper collection of property tax. He asked the Department of Municipal Administration not to come in the way of tax collection by civic bodies.
R.K. Siddaramanna, MLC and former president of the city municipal council, said that the confusion over collection of tax on houses constructed on revenue land should be sorted out at the government level.
Responding to this, Mr. Kodgi said that he would hold a meeting on the issue with senior officers of the departments concerned and the municipal commissioners in Bangalore in the last week of November.
The former president of the city municipal council N. Rajashekar sought stringent action against those involved in illegal land deals in the wake of the boom in real estate business.
Councillor S.N. Channabasappa of the BJP said that it was unfortunate that “khatas” had not been issued to 950 houses built on municipal sites 15 years ago. He attributed the delay to the continued correspondence between the Department of Municipal Administration and the city municipal council. He said that the Deputy Commissioner should be authorised to sort out such issues.
Councillors K.B. Prasannakumar, H.M. Yogish and K.V. Vishwanath of the Congress said that those enjoying civic amenities should be brought under the tax net.
President of the city municipal council K.S. Gangadharappa presided over the meeting. Vice-president B. Satyanarayana and CMC Commissioner B. Jayanna were present.
