BBMP tax and finance team has identified 6 lakh properties that have violated building bylaws The Palike hopes to collect over Rs 1000 crore by March 31 BBMP will impose 100 percent penalty if the owners fail to adhere to the norms, say officers
With a recovery of Rs 200 crore in two months from just 100 properties under tax assessment drive, as lakhs of properties have undervalued the property under tax assessment schemes, BBMP hopes to get over Rs 1000 crore by March 31.
According to the preliminary findings by the BBMP tax and finance team, it found a whopping 6 lakh properties that have violated building bylaws and undervalued their properties.
"Among the six lakhs properties, about two lakh come under commercial and industrial category and rest are residential buildings and complexes. By the end of March, if these properties pay the dues to the Palike, the BBMP will be able to strengthen its financial position," said MK Gunashekhar, Standing Committee Chairperson for Tax and Finance, BBMP.
He further added that, the BBMP would impose 100 percent penalty if the owners fail to adhere to the Karnataka Municipal Corporation norms.
The Palike, which had the potential to make financial gains and improve infrastructure has failed in the past as its officers in each zones were either ignorant or were hand in glove with owners who undervalued the property failed to get the plan approval from BBMP.
"If BBMP is at loss now, it is only because of corrupt BBMP officials. The officers have the audacity not to answer the phone calls when questions about Palike and development are asked. Apart from 6 lakh bylaw violations, 3 lakh properties have no approval as per BBMP’s intelligence report. We hold the zonal engineers and ward engineers responsible for this mess and financial loss,” said G Padmavathi, Mayor.
Now that many properties are being identified, BBMP hopes to collect over Rs 1,000 crore by March 31. Meanwhile, a decision will be taken regarding the properties that have no plan approval, said the Mayor.