Zonal heads pulled up for poor tax collection

They have been directed to bring all properties under tax net by March 31

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah on Tuesday took the zonal commissioners to task for poor recovery of property taxes in the City.The commissioner has directed them to bring all the 16 lakh-odd properties in the tax net by March 31.

During a meeting with the Palike’s zonal commissioners and revenue officials on the financial health of the Palike, Siddaiah reviewed the status of property tax collection.
The meeting was informed that the Palike has to recover Rs 750 crore from four lakh property owners in the City.

Siddaiah said in 2008-09 as many as 13.35 lakh people had declared their property and paid their taxes, while in the current year 9.44 lakh property owners have paid their taxes.

At least 16.5 lakh properties have been identified using the GIS-based property numbers. While taking the officials to task for not initiating action against the tax defaulters, he directed them to deal with the defaulters with an iron hand.

He told them that by the end of March this year, all the 16.5 lakh properties identified through GIS should be brought within the tax ambit. He also directed the officials to display the names of the tax defaulters at public places and publish them in newspapers. He told them that they should make sure that by the end of March, the property tax dues are recovered completely.

Siddaiah directed the officials that any property which has been undervalued should be assessed again by February 28 and a penalty should be levied on such property owners.