Palike to publish tax defaulters' names

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), following its futile drum-beating exercise to collect property tax dues, has now decided to publish the name of the tax defaulters.

On Friday, the Palike sent the list of tax defaulters, who have dues between  Rs one lakh and Rs 2.71 crore.

The Palace Grounds has the highest dues and the case is pending before the joint commissioner of BBMP West Zone.

Central Warehouse in EPIP Zone owes the Palike Rs 2.17 crore and D Manikchand owes Rs 2.07 crore.  Rajatha Enterprises on OTC Road, B B Raghunath, CB Associates, BWSSB office in Rajatha Bhavana, Bangalore north tahsildar, Unicorn International and Sri Jaina Murthy Samaja International and Sri Jaina Murthy Samaja are among the major defaulters in the West zone. In Bommanahalli zone, Shailendra Tech Park and J B Lal are the major tax defaulters.

BBMP Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said it is a part of the Palike’s drive to collect tax from the defaulters.

“We had issued notices and even carried out drum-beating exercise to make the defaulters pay money. Now, we are going to publish their names, too, in newspapers. If these defaulters do not heed, we will attach their bank accounts,” said the BBMP Commissioner.

The BBMP has been sending notices to the defaulters but it did not yield the desired results.

Sources said a corporator in the Bangalore South constituency owed Rs 47 lakh. As soon as the Palike decided to publish the names, she paid all the dues immediately.

Another senior BBMP officer said the Palike has the power to attach all the movable properties of the tax defaulters. As the Palike is reeling under severe financial crisis, it has decided to consider the option, though it is extreme, said the officer.