BBMP to knock on doors of property tax defaulters
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to go right to the doorsteps of more than 3,00,000 defaulting property owners and make them cough up the outstanding property tax for 2009-10.
Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) D L Chandrashekar said the Palike had sent notices to four lakh property owners, who failed to pay tax for 2009-10. “About 60,000 people responded to the notices and paid up,” he said. He, however, warned of serious action against those people whose cheques were dishonoured.
In contrast, this financial year has been much better for the Palike, revenue collection-wise. In just two months of the new year, 60 per cent revenue target has been achieved. Of the 12 lakh properties in BBMP jurisdiction, six lakh properties are yet to be brought under the property tax bracket.
For the year 2010-11, Chandrashekar said the BBMP had set a target of Rs 1,000 crore and so far about Rs 600 crore had been netted. “Last year we succeeded in collecting Rs 797 crore property tax. For this fiscal, around 60 per cent of the target has been achieved and we are confident of meeting the target,” he said.
Chandrashekar said people may pay property tax without penalty till June end for the financial year 2010-11. From July 1, a two per cent interest would be levied. “The additional two per cent by way of interest is one way of minimising default,” he said.
