The Hindu 16.11.2010
BPS: GVMC earns penal fee of Rs. 85.4 cr.
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Building Penalisation Scheme introduced by the State Government for regularising unauthorised constructions came to end on Monday earning a penal fee of Rs.85.4 crores to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.
On the last day alone, Rs.2.5 crores was realised, according to Chief City Planner D. Venkataratnam. The receiving of documents and the penal fee went on till late in the evening. Of the 22,285 applications, 82 per cent have been disposed of.
The GVMC special counters for BPS worked on Saturday and Sunday, though the two days were holidays. An amount of Rs.1 crores was paid as penal fee during the two days. In some cases, those who have paid the penal amount due and submitted all the papers are not approaching the respective zone offices. Mr. Venkataratnam said they should approach the respective assistant city planners for further action.
Action likely
With BPS coming to an end on Monday, the Municipal authorities are readying themselves to take action against the defaulters.
As a first step, notices will be issued to the defaulters who have applied for regularisation but failed to submit the required documents and pay the penal fee, levying 25 per cent more property tax.
The BPS that had been extended from time to time earned more than Rs.81 crores to the municipal corporation in the form of penal fee till the last week. The scheme was to have been ended by June 30 but was extended again. Until June, the revenue realised from BPS was Rs.71 crores.
BPS was implemented after a GO was issued by the State Government in December, 2007.
