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Taxation

‘Former royals should pay tax for Palace'

Friday, 18 March 2011 07:16 administrator
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The Hindu        18.03.2011

‘Former royals should pay tax for Palace'

Staff Reporter

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) now appears to have trained its guns on the owners of the sprawling Bangalore Palace Grounds — the erstwhile royal family of Mysore. Earlier in the week, Mayor S.K. Nataraj found that there were many “sheds” that had come up on the grounds and the owners had not sought permission from the BBMP for them. The inspection also revealed that several trees had been felled and power generators were being used without permission.

According to the Mayor, the owners had not paid their dues to the BBMP for the past three years. The owners had caused a revenue loss of Rs. 4 crore to the BBMP by evading property tax and trade licence fees. “The sheds that have come up are being used for commercial purposes. They are rented out for marriages, exhibitions and conventions,” he said.

However, the BBMP was spending money to clean and maintain the grounds. “The sheds have a potential to generate annual revenue of Rs. 1.38 crore for the BBMP,” the Mayor added.

 

 

It's no prank: garbage cess from April 1

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 12:02 administrator
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The Times of India       16.03.2011

It's no prank: garbage cess from April 1

TNN | Mar 16, 2011, 12.00am IST
BANGALORE: The cash-strapped BMMP is trying every trick in the book to generate resources and from April 1, you'll be shelling out garbage cess. The question still remains whether it'll ramp up its garbage clearance and disposal. It'll be collected as part of property tax once a year.

The different slabs for the cess are based on bulk producers and garbage collected from households. Separate slabs have been set for residential users, commercial enterprises, industries, hotels, kalyana mantaps and nursing homes (see table). The rates have been fixed as per section 103 (B) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. BBMP estimates it'll generate Rs 250 crore through it.

Property owners have to declare quantity of garbage produced on their premises. About 3,200 metric tonnes of waste are generated in the city every day. The cess is to meet the BBMP's expenditure of Rs 200 crore spent on solid waste management. The BBMP council approved this proposal recently. The initiative has been taken up to keep the city clean, said BBMP commissioner Siddaiah. There's a provision for collection of garbage cess in JN-NURM scheme and most cities in this scheme have already implemented it.

When to pay

The cess is effective from April 1, 2011. Within 60 days of the first financial year (by June), this cess should be paid when property owners pay half-yearly or annual property tax. If it's not paid within the stipulated period, revenue officials will send a reminder and then levy a penalty on defaulters. If the place has been rented out, tenants will have to pay cess through their owners. The rule is silent about garbage segregation at source, which is crucial to solid waste management.

What to pay

Residential buildings

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 10

* 1001-3000 sqft: Rs 30

* 3001 sqft and more: Rs 50

Commercial buildings

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 50

* 1001-5000 sqft: Rs 100

* More than 5001 sqft: Rs 200

Industries

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 100

* 1001-5000 sqft: Rs 200

* More than 5001 sqft: Rs 300

Hotels, kalyan mantaps, nursing homes

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 300

* 1001-5000 sqft: Rs 500

* More than 5001 sqft: Rs 600 
 

Get ready to pay garbage cess

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 06:41 administrator
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The Hindu        16.03.2011

Get ready to pay garbage cess

Staff Reporter

It should be paid along with property tax from April

Owners or tenants of properties coming within the limits of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will have to share the costs of solid waste management with the civic body from April.

Property owners as well as tenants will have to pay solid waste management cess, the rates for which have been announced.

Rising cost

The decision to levy the cess on all properties was taken in the light of the expenditure the BBMP incurs on solid waste management: around Rs. 200 crore every year and rising. Separate slabs have been fixed according to Section 103 (B) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976, and the cess has to be paid along with the property tax.

Forms to pay the garbage cess will be given along with the property tax forms in which owners have to mention the measurement and type of property they own. Those paying property tax for the full year can pay the solid waste cess for the whole year too, while those paying the tax for half the year will have to pay the cess for the same duration.

The solid waste management cess has to be paid within 60 days from the commencement of the next financial year, failing which BBMP officials will issue notices. The officials will assess the property of the defaulters who will then have to pay the cess with penalty.

‘JNNURM guidelines'

Defending the cess, Mayor S.K. Nataraj said it was being introduced as per the guidelines of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

However, Janata Dal (Secular) Floor Leader in BBMP Council Padmanabha Reddy said that collecting it was not mentioned anywhere in the JNNURM guidelines, and that the BJP was using it as an excuse to cover up for its maladministration. He added that the cess will not ensure a cleaner Bangalore.

Mr. Reddy said his party will continue to oppose the cess. “We had opposed it in the Council, and we will continue to oppose it. We are planning to start a movement before it comes into effect after consultation with the party leadership.”

M. Nagaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the BBMP Council, said the garbage cess was anti-people. “What are people paying property taxes for? It is all-inclusive. What is the point of collecting separate taxes for every aspect of property?” he asked.

 
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