Getting PID numbers, A-khatas tough task in new BBMP areas

Obtaining Property Identification (PID) numbers or 'A-khatas' for legally constructed properties in the city has become a tough task for owners, especially in newly added zones of the BBMP. But most of these property owners are paying taxes.

It is estimated that more than 2,27,813 such properties built in these areas are not recognised by BBMP records, although it has been a decade since the city municipal body included peripheral zones under its jurisdiction to provide better infrastructure. The highest number of properties that are outside the tax bracket is in RR Nagar (40,641).

It was in 2007 that Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike expanded to become BBMP. As on October 26, a total of 2,13,434 properties have been added to the tax bracket in BBMP limits.

The case of Vani Kishore, a resident of Shobha Hill View Apartment in Talaghattapura near Kanakapura Road, best describes the situation. Vani, who has been residing here for more than nine years now, has been paying property tax online. Then onwards, she and her husband are trying to get an 'A-khata' for their property.

Running from pillar to post

"We have been paying property tax for the past six years. Earlier, we were paying tax to Kaggalipura Gram Panchayat. Initially, we approached the GP for A-khata. But they 'forced' us to go to the zonal BBMP office, saying our flat comes under RR Nagar zone. But here, they rejected our application, saying our property does not come under BBMP," said Vani.

There are more than 700 such residents in this apartment alone who are either without a PID number or A-khata.

"The joint commissioner of RR Nagar agrees that our property comes under BBMP, but not the joint commissioner of revenue," Vani said.

"I have a SAS number and no PID number. We have been trying to get A-khata for our property for over two years now. We are asked to pay a bribe from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 per flat. We have occupancy certificate, but not A-khata or PID, though we have been paying tax regularly," said a flat owner in Whitefield (Mahadevapura zone).

Venkatachalapathy M, joint commissioner, revenue, said, "We have included the data for newly added zones. The question of not issuing A-khata comes only if the property has not been handed over with due process. There may be some properties which have not been converted to non-agriculture purposes. They will be issued khatas, if they are in BBMP limits."
S G Raveendra, special commissioner, estate, BBMP, said, "The commissioner has asked zonal joint commissioners to rectify the issue. However, we have only two surveyors and it becomes difficult to get things done."

"If the owners are paying property tax to BBMP, they are in the tax net for all practical purposes. The Geospatial Enabled Property Tax Information System (GEPTIS) has a mechanism to track all properties which are in the tax net. It monitors the process for properties which are in the tax net and which are not," said BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad.

The commissioner said people can approach him if they find it difficult to obtain a PID or a khata for legal properties from assistant revenue officers or joint commissioners at zonal level.