The old system which was in existence between 2003 and 2007 will be revived to facilitate easy and simple payment of property tax.

“Once the online system is operational, citizens can pay their property tax at any BBMP office in the City. The payment of tax online was discontinued with the introduction of the new mode of tax payment (self assessment scheme),” said a BBMP source. As most of the properties have Property Identification Numbers (PID), the officers can access the details anywhere in the City, said BBMP officers.

“We are planning to upload details of all 14 lakh properties online so that our officers can avail the details at the click of a mouse. Till today details of as many as eight to ten lakh properties have been uploaded ,” added the source. Details of all the properties in Mahadevpura zone limits have been uploaded with their PID numbers. The same is being considered for Bommanahalli and the other six zones.

The property tax collection for 2010-11 has surpassed the set target of Rs 1,100 crore. The BBMP has already collected tax from as many as 11.5 lakh property owners and dispatched notices to nearly 1.5 lakh owners, who have defaulted on payment. For the year 2011-12, the Palike has collected Rs 360 crore since April.

Palike buffeted by cheque bounce

Dishonour of cheques has become a gargantuan problem for the fund-starved the BBMP.

In the last three years, cheques totalling to Rs 47.63 crore issued towards property tax have been dishonoured. And the Palike after much hardship has recovered only about Rs 38 lakh. “Cheques totalling to Rs 28.5 crore were dishonoured last year. Of this we have succeeded in recovering about Rs 22 crore,” deputy mayor S Harish said.