Urban News

The Hindu     28.12.2010

BBMP to tax four lakh property more

Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has identified four lakh pieces of house property that will be brought under the tax net and hopes that this will help it meet its target.

Revenue officials said so far, Rs. 966 crore has been collected as property tax, while the BBMP budget envisages Rs. 1,600-crore target this fiscal.

Last year, it had collected Rs. 795 crore as property tax.

Officials said there are an estimated 15 lakh house property in the BBMP jurisdiction and as many as 14.5 lakh property owners had paid their tax. With an additional four lakh pieces of house property to be brought under the tax net, the BBMP hopes to achieve its target.

The officials have been banking on the GIS (geographical information system) data to identify the property that are not in the tax net. The tax declared by property owners is also being validated using GIS data. The validation process was supposed to be completed by November but later extended to December 15, and yet again to the end of this month.

Commissioner Siddaiah told The Hindu that officials have been directed to pursue property verification vigorously. “They have completed 90 per cent verification; 98 per cent in Bommanahalli zone. After validation/verification of property data, unique property identification numbers are assigned,” he said.

Property owners who have not paid tax for the past three years have also been identified. “We will begin to issue notices to them in January first week. We will also issue notices if property owners have not declared their property correctly. They will be given 15 days to pay the tax and fine,” he said.

Revenue officials said if the property owners fail to pay up even after being served notices, the BBMP will seal their property. The BBMP was also contemplating placing advertisements in the media giving the details of the tax evaders.