Mega defaulters owe BBMP over Rs 112 crore
If monthly interest of 2 per cent is added, the cos will have to shell out double
Bengaluru: Manyata Tech Park, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Subramanya Constructions and Total Mall are the top few tax defaulters who owe a whopping Rs 112 crore to the BBMP. Tax and Finance Standing Committee chairman M.Shivaraju released a list of top of 10 tax defaulters in the city on Monday. Addressing reporters, he said that though these companies were issued notices multiple times, they had failed to respond.
“The top 10 defaulters (commercial establishments) owe Rs 112.25 crore to the BBMP excluding interests. If the monthly 2 per cent interest is added to the dues, then the companies will have to shell out double the money,” added Mr Shivaraju. With the announcement of this list, the Committee plans to release tax defaulters’ lists in various stages. “In the first stage, we have announced the names of companies which have dues above Rs 1 crore. In the later stages, we will release the names of firms which owe Rs 50 lakh and above dues,” he said. Following the announcement, the Committee plans to put up boards in front of the defaulters’ buildings, seize them and proceed to take legal action.
The committee chairman said that he had instructed the BBMP officials in Bommanahalli, Yelahanka, Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Dasarahalli zones to collect pending taxes and they had already collected Rs 1,505 crore from the four zones.
“Trade licenses and advertisement taxes are collected online, which means the rest like property tax has to be collected by visiting individual properties. In this regard, we have instructed the revenue officers to visit 25 properties per day. We are confident of collecting Rs 2,500 crore in the coming months,” Mr Shivaraj said. The Committee has decided to felicitate the officers, who collect highest dues, during Independence Day celebrations.
Top Defaulters
- Manyata Tech Park- Rs 83.45 crore
- Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre- Rs 8.51 crore
- Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Whitefield)- Rs 7.97 crore
- Subramanya Constructions- Rs 5.34 crore
- Total Mall (Mahadevapura)- Rs 1.72 crore
- United Glass Bottles Manufacturing Company- Rs 1.37 crore
- Central Mall (Mahadevapura)- Rs 1.25 crore
- Soul Space- Rs 1.22 crore
- Home Town- Rs 91 lakh
- Bhagwan Das Sharma Company- Rs 73 lakh
- Total- Rs 112.25 crore
Rs 71 crore due from BBMP markets
Opposition leader in the BBMP Padmanabha Reddy alleged on Monday that dues of over Rs 71 crore are pending from different BBMP markets in the city. Addressing a press conference, he said there are 123 markets in Bengaluru and the BBMP should generate Rs 71 crore in rent from the markets. However, the BBMP officials have failed to collect the dues, he alleged.
“From Madiwala Market alone, the BBMP has to get Rs 18 crore, but because of the involvement of local politicians, the shopkeepers are evading payments on time. What are the Standing Committee (Markets) members doing if they cannot monitor even this,” he asked.
He alleged that even big companies, like Prestige, are cheating the BBMP of property tax. “Hundreds of crores can be generated if tax defaulters are brought to book. But the city administration has gone to dogs with Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George and Mayor Manjunath Reddy only engaging in publicity gimmicks,” he said.
Reveal the politicians’ names
On the sidelines of the press meet, Mr Reddy said that Joint Commissioner (Health and SWM) Dr Yatish Kumar had levied Rs 10 lakh penalty on Fortis Hospital, but was forced to withdraw the order following political pressures.
“The penalty was levied following a violation of solid waste management rules by the hospital staff. But the management succeeded in getting political help and reducing the penalty to Rs 1 lakh. Mr Kumar must reveal the names of the leaders, or the BJP corporators will protest in the council,” he warned.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.