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Taxation

Delay in property tax verification likely

Thursday, 25 November 2010 09:22 administrator
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The Hindu  25.11.2010

Delay in property tax verification likely

Chitra V. Ramani

Civic body has managed only 40 per cent of the target it set itself
Door-to-door verification process of property tax and validation of GIS data began in October

BBMP has collected Rs. 850 crore property tax this year, compared to Rs. 797 crore last year

Bangalore: With the November-end deadline to complete verification of property tax details of an estimated 15 lakh properties in the city fast approaching, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials appear to be lagging way behind.

For, they have been able to verify details of barely six lakh properties in the city.

The door-to-door verification of property tax began in October along with the validation of the GIS data.

Deadline extension?

D.L. Chandrashekar, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), told The Hindu the BBMP staff involved in the verification process has been able to cover only around 40 per cent of the properties. The officials have been able to cover around 65 per cent of the properties for the validation of GIS data.

“We may consider extending the last day by another 15 days,” he said.

The BBMP managed to collect around Rs. 850 crore from 10.5 lakh property owners as against the target of Rs. 1,200 crore this fiscal. Last year, the civic authority collected Rs. 797 crore from around 10 lakh property owners.

The last date to pay the first instalment ended on August 30, while the last date to pay the second instalment is November 30.

Property owners who have not paid the first instalment will have to pay two per cent penalty per month delay.

To ensure that more revenue comes into the BBMP's coffers through property tax, special teams comprising tax collector, tax inspector, evaluator, assistant engineer, junior engineer and assistant health inspector were formed at the ward level. The team has to cover at least 50 properties a day.

Observers, either the Revenue Officer, Assistant Revenue Officer, Assistant Executive Engineer, Health Inspector, Horticulture Superintendent or Veterinary Inspector, must monitor the verification and send a report daily to the Commissioner.

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 November 2010 09:24
 

Double property tax for illegal constructions rejected

Wednesday, 24 November 2010 00:00 administrator
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The Times of India     24.11.2010

Double property tax for illegal constructions rejected

PUNE: The standing committee of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) rejected the civic administration's proposal to levy double the property tax for illegal constructions in the municipal limits.

Prashant Shitole, chairman, standing committee said, "The proposal was rejected to safeguard the interests of citizens." The property tax department had proposed to levy double the property tax from the next fiscal year for illegal constructions that have come up after January 4, 2008 in the municipal limits.

Shitole said that Shahaji Pawar, assistant commissioner and head of the property tax department told the meeting that the proposal was tabled as per the state government resolution. The standing committee rejected the proposal and instead asked the civic administration to make changes in development control (DC) rules to allow people to fully use the plots of the land they have bought.

The standing committee members demanded that the gunthewari scheme be used to regularise illegal constructions. Eknath Ugile, city engineer told the meeting that the PCMC has regularised around 12,000 properties under gunthewari scheme. Shitole said, "The standing committee has approved the proposal to give concessions to builders and flatowners to encourage green buildings in the municipal limits."

According to the proposal, the PCMC's environment cell, with help from environmental organisations like TERI and GRIHA, will scrutinise building proposal received and green building certificate will be given depending on the environment-friendly schemes proposed.

Star rating will be given as per points scored for providing rainwater harvesting, solar power, drainage and sewage management facilities along with other amenities. Concession in premium charges ranging from 10 to 50 per cent, will be given according to the rating.

The green building certificate will be valid for a period of five years and will be renewed every year thereafter. The flat holders in such buildings will get a 10 per cent concession in the general tax. Shitole said, "The standing committee also approved a proposal to construct a 1.4 km long and 45 m wide road from Chinchwadgaon-Kalewadi bridge to the beginning of the proposed Empire Estate flyover in Kalewadi as part of the Bus Rapid Transit System ( BRTS) route from Kalewadi phata Dehu-Alandi road at an expenditure of Rs 19.88 crore. Another proposal to hire contract labourers from organisations of the self-employed and unemployed people for one year for maintaining cleanliness in four zones at a cost of Rs 3.78 crore was also approved."

Resolutions for asphalting of roads in Dapodi at a cost of Rs 35 lakh and to widen and asphalt the Bhosari-Alandi road as per the Development Plan(DP) at a cost of Rs 14 lakh were also approved. Tuesday's standing committee meeting saw 115 proposals on the agenda alongwith 20 short-notice proposals which were discussed and approved in an hour. These proposals' estimated expenditure is of Rs 40 crore.

 

High court seeks Emaar stand on DDA charges

Tuesday, 23 November 2010 09:29 administrator
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The Times of India             23.11.2010

High court seeks Emaar stand on DDA charges

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Monday asked Commonwealth Games Village builder Emaar MGF to give its stand against allegations by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) that MGF was penalized because it failed to complete work within deadline.

HC was hearing arguments on behalf of DDA justifying the decision to revoke bank guarantees deposited by the builder to the tune of Rs 150 crore. Appearing for the authority, additional solicitor general Indira Jaisingh and standing counsel Ajay Verma pointed out MGF has itself admitted that the work of construction at the Games Village was incomplete. DDA cited the failure of MGF to obtain a completion certificate from the Games monitoring committee that consisted of three members including one from EMAAR. Wondering how the builder could challenge the DDA's penalty when it failed to get a completion certificate, DDA said the builder's petition before court was devoid of any merit.

Meanwhile, SBI, under attack from DDA for allegedly colluding with MGF by not transferring Rs 60 crore to its account, defended itself before HC. It claimed Rs 60 crore encashed by DDA as part of bank guarantee had been debited from EMAAR's account but were lying with the bank after HC's order maintaining status quo.

Emaar-MGF had moved HC against DDA's decision to confiscate the company's bank guarantee, furnished by the builder before taking up the construction of 1,168 flats in the Village on a bank of the Yamuna river in east Delhi at a cost of over Rs 1,000 crore.

Two days after CWG ended, DDA had evaluated damages and warned EMAAR to either pay up the damages in a week's time or lose the bank guarantee for its delay in wrapping up construction in two towers of Games Village.

EMAAR alleged DDA invoked the guarantees even before its own deadline of a week ended, prompting the builder to seek relief from HC.

The developer said the Village was built to the "highest standards of quality and design'' and all the pertinent milestones were achieved as per the scope of work. The company also said all deficiencies pointed out by the DDA or any other agency were duly rectified by it.

 
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