20,000 property owners owe ₹965 crore to BBMP
Synopsis
The BBMP is aiming to collect ₹2,900 crore in the current financial year. Though the BBMP has 18.5 lakh properties listed, only 15 lakh pay tax.
Addressing a meeting of BBMP officials held at BMRDA (Bengaluru Metropolitan Regional Development Authority) central office in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Minister KJ George stated that though 18.5 lakh properties have been identified within the BBMP's limits, taxes were being collected from 15 lakh property owners only. Bring the remaining 3.5 lakh properties into the tax net, he urged the officials.
The revenue thus fetched could be utilized for providing and improving infrastructure in the city, the minister remarked.
The BBMP is aiming to collect ₹2,900 crore in the current financial year. Of this amount, ₹1,960 crore has been collected already and the remaining ₹1,000 crore is hoped to be collected over the next five months remaining in the current fiscal, the minister stressed.
Authorities should list the names of 25 property owners who have highest tax liability in each zone; and the names of 100 property owners who have high tax liability in each ward and effective measures should be resorted to to collect the tax dues from them, the minister suggested.