Bengaluru apartment residents are facing issues paying property tax after a new GBA rule made garbage data mandatory. Technical glitches and confusion over waste details have stalled online payments, leaving many frustrated.
Thousands of apartment residents in Bengaluru are facing significant difficulties in paying their property tax following the introduction of a new rule by the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The directive, aimed at integrating waste management data into the tax system, has led to widespread confusion and frustration due to technical glitches and procedural complications. Many residents attempting to complete their tax payments online have found themselves stuck midway, unable to proceed without fulfilling the new requirement.
Mandatory Waste Details Stall Tax Payments
As per the new rule, residents must compulsorily provide details of the garbage generated from their homes before proceeding with property tax payment. This includes recording the quantity of both dry and wet waste disposed of. The system does not allow users to move forward unless this information is entered, creating a major hurdle for taxpayers.
Private Waste Management Adds To Confusion
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many large apartment complexes generate more than 100 kg of waste daily and often rely on private agencies for disposal. Residents allege that the Greater Bengaluru Authority does not handle such volumes directly. Despite this, the rule requires each individual flat owner to provide separate waste data, adding to the confusion and administrative burden.
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Technical Glitches On Portal Frustrate Users
In addition to procedural issues, residents have reported technical glitches on the online portal. Attempts to enter smaller estimated quantities, such as 1 kg or 4 kg, are being rejected by the system. Instead, users receive prompts asking them to enter quantities exceeding 100 kg. This issue has effectively halted the tax payment process for many users.
Sudden Implementation Sparks Anger
Residents have also expressed dissatisfaction over the sudden implementation of the rule. Previously, there was no requirement to provide garbage-related details while paying property tax. Many believe the lack of prior notice has caused unnecessary inconvenience.
Satish Malya, President of the Bengaluru Apartment Association, criticised the move, stating that the rule is impractical and riddled with technical issues. He pointed out that it is difficult for individual households to accurately measure their waste generation, and that the portal glitches have made tax payment nearly impossible. He urged the authorities to resolve the issues promptly and provide relief to residents.
While the initiative may have been introduced with the intention of improving waste management, its flawed execution has turned it into a major challenge for apartment residents across Bengaluru.
