Deccan Chronicle 22.09.2009

BBMP has flood harvest plan

Bengaluru, sept. 21: In the aftermath of several people dying in rain-related incidents in the city, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike has come up with an ambitious plan to prevent flooding in the city: The civic body proposes to construct a complex of structures on all roads in Bengaluru to harvest rainwater and stop the regular inundation of localities in the city.

BMMP claims that the arrangement will also help recharge ground water.

BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena told Deccan Chronicle that the system has already been implemented in some parts of the city including Byatarayanapura and Yelahanka. “It will be mandatory for all new roads. The system will be extended across the entire city in phases,” he said.

The rainwater harvesting structures will be constructed alongside drains on either side of the road by sinking deep holes 50 metres to 100 metres apart. “Porous material will be put in these pits, allowing water to sink into the ground,” Mr Meena explained.

Footpaths will also get porous paving to prevent rainwater from collecting, said BBMP special commissioner Maheshwar Rao.

Experts agree that the plan could be effective. “The city on an average receives 1,000 mm of rainfall every year. Not even 1 per cent of the rainwater is utilised,” says Vishwanath, a rainwater harvesting expert.

A scientific study carried out by the mines and geologies department in association with the Central Ground Water Board says the ground water availability situation in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts is “critical”.

According to Mr Vishwanath, the average ground water level in the city has dropped to 900 feet from 600 feet in recent times. There are over 4,00,000 borewells in Bengaluru but only 5 per cent these have been recharged. Around 20 per cent of the city’s borewells have gone dry.

BWSSB meets the water requirements of only 40 to 45 per cent of the city’s population. The demand for water is 1,125 million liters per day (mld) but the board supplies only 870 mld.

BBMP believes that its rainwater harvesting system could prevent flooding and recharge the city’s ground water at the same time.

The Hindu 22.09.2009

New property tax rate may be approved next month

Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE: Mayor M. Shankar Bhat is hopeful of getting the State Government’s approval for the property taxes, which were revised by the council of the Mangalore City Corporation under the self assessment scheme (SAS), by mid-October.

The council of the civic body in its June 30, 2009 meeting revised the tax rates (stated as per cent of the capital value) under the self-assessment tax, implemented by the then administrator of the corporation on April 1, 2008.

Meeting

Mr. Bhat told The Hindu that he, along with V. Ponnuraj, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, and K.N. Vijayaprakash, Commissioner of the corporation, had attended a meeting with Javed Akhtar, Secretary, Department of Urban Development, in Bangalore on September 16 to discuss various matters concerning the civic body. The matters related to the SAS were also discussed during that meeting, he added.

Stating that certain aspects related to the revision had been clarified to the Secretary, Mr. Bhat said that the department would soon be placing the proposal before Cabinet for approval.

It was likely to be placed in the next Cabinet meeting, he added. “I am hopeful that the Government will approve the revised rates by mid-October,” the Mayor said.

While revising the tax rate for commercial and non-residential buildings, the council had reduced the rate from the present 2 per cent to a minimum of 0.5 per cent and a maximum of 1.5 per cent.

The prevailing rate is 2 per cent across the board.

As per the revised rates, the property tax for commercial and non-residential buildings will be divided into 11 categories, based on the purpose for which the buildings are meant to be used. Different rates have been proposed for each floor of multi-storied buildings.

Residential buildings

The tax rate for residential buildings now stands at 0.6 per cent across the board. There is no minimum or maximum rate.

Minimum rate

The council has revised it to a minimum of 0.3 per cent and a maximum of 0.8 per cent, depending on the plinth area. The proposed rates are: 0.3 per cent up to 500 sq. ft. area; 0.4 per cent between 500 sq. ft. and 1,000 sq. ft.; 0.5 per cent from 1,000 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft.; 0.6 per cent between 2,000 sq. ft. and 3,000 sq. ft.; 0.7 per cent from 3,000 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft.; and 0.8 per cent for about 4,000 sq. ft.

Vacant sites

Vacant sites have been divided into three categories. They are: totally residential locality; high-density commercial locality; and medium density commercial locality.

The tax rate for vacant sites measuring up to 25 cents of land in a residential locality has been fixed at 0.1 per cent. It will be 0.15 per cent in medium-density commercial locality; and 0.2 per cent in high density commercial locality.

Owners of vacant sites of more than 25 cents will have to pay 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent for the first 25 cents of land, depending on the density of the locality. For the rest of the area, they will be charged at 0.01 per cent to 0.1 per cent.

Minister’s visit

The Mayor said that Minister for Urban Local Bodies S. Suresh Kumar was scheduled to visit Mangalore on Friday.