As citizens demand more accountability and besiege the government with pleas to manage the affairs of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in a better way, the civic body has hit back with a proposal to increase property taxes. In a move it says is long overdue, it has announced the revision of property taxes this fiscal itself leading to fears that the tax rates may certainly go north. However, in a good move, the BBMP has also sought suggestions from the public and has promised to incorporate them if submitted before November 18.
The very mention of the hike in tax structure has sent shivers up the spine of residential and commercial property owners in the city. ``We are expecting a steep hike,’’ says Sandeep KB, a property owner from north Bangalore. Sandeep’s thinking is that the taxes are very low in the newly added wards of the expanded BBMP Council. ``They seem to be eyeing areas in north Bangalore including Dasarahalli, Byataranapura, Yelahanka, parts of Jalahalli, Kengeri, Mahadevapura and other areas which have been added to BBMP only some years ago. These rates have not been revised at all. Plus BBMP is also eyeing scores of empty sites and new layouts.’’
The BBMP has pointed out that it requires to mobilise huge resources to tackle the city’s problems be it crippling infrastructure, frequent flooding, traffic jams, garbage, pot-hole ridden roads , froth carrying lakes and such. Now, citizens have to get ready to pay if they want these issues addressed.
NorthBangalorePost estimates that property taxes may be hiked in the region of 25% to 40% from the prevailing rates. The revision will be based on the newly introduced guidance value and reorganisation of zones. Emerging suburbs such as Yelahanka, Banaswadi, Hebbal , Whitefield and surrounding areas are expected to see maximum hikes while Ganganagar, New BEL Road, RMV, Sanjayanagar, RT Nagar, RMV extension, Mathikere can expect a fair hike. It is expected that commercial property owners will bear the brunt of the proposed hikes.
BBMP’s justification for the across the board hikes is that the city has grown five folds while its revenues are not matching its spending. Despite drum-beating exercises to embarrass defaulters and other such coercive methods, the BBMP failed to achieve its revenue target of Rs 2,000 crore last year.
With the proposal not going down well with residents, corporate bodies , resident welfare associations and commercial property owners, the BBMP has invited objections and suggestions from all affected parties. All the relevant information has been uploaded on the BBMP site and the last date to respond is November 18, 2015.
As a resident connect portal, www.northbangalorepost.com is currently conducting a poll on its social media pages and inviting suggestions and comments from citizens, resident welfare associations, corporates and citizen action forums. A detailed report and concerns raised will be submitted to BBMP and elected representatives on this issue.
Send in your suggestions and comments by email to northbangalorepost@gmail.com by November 17.
Those interested can also share, comment and participate in the poll in the links below www.facebook.com/northbangalorepost and www.twitter.com/n_Bangalorepost.
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