Embrace GIS, mop up property revenue: Venkaiah Naidu

Chennai: Union Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has asked the TN government to opt for GIS mapping of properties to improve the revenue from out of property tax.

The GIS (Geographic Information System), he contended will help to check on the extent of properties including houses or hotels, malls or other commercial structures and evaluate the exact property tax due for the civic bodies.

“The civic bodies may not hike the property tax rates but they can realise the sum due for them by adopting GIS, which is being followed in cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru to assess the property tax,” Venkaiah advised.

Chennai, according to him, is facing huge problem in realising property tax and the GIS would help the civic authorities to improve their revenue without hiking the tax rates, he said while briefing the media here on Sunday.

He also advised real estate developers to fulfill their assurances while placing advertisements in newspapers and said, “I am not asking builders to do anything out of the way. What you have promised, fulfill it. What you promised through prospectus, what you have promised through big, big colourful advertisements in newspapers, fulfill it,” Mr. Venkaiah said.

“I am not going to ask you what you (real estate developers) have not promised. What you promised like carpet area, show that. Whatever time you promised (for completion of project) stick to that,” he said and remarked and warned builders that they would be “fined” or even “prosecuted” if they did not follow the rules.

Tamil Nadu would sanction three lakh houses in 2017-18 under the Central's Housing for All scheme.  "Tamil Nadu Government today assured me that it will sanction three lakh houses during 2017-18. Because after 2017-18, I am not going to sanction... 2019-20 are election years and there will not be any time," the Minister who earlier presented a certificate to

Karaikudi Municipal Commissioner K. Rangaraj, for the civic body achieving open defecation free status.

Want stable govt in TN, says Venkaiah

BJP senior and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said his party desired a “stable government in Tamil Nadu” and that it has not interfered in the internal affairs of the ruling AIADMK.

“As far as the BJP is concerned, let me make it very clear that it will not interfere in the internal affairs of AIADMK. I did not hold any political discussion with the Chief Minister. Our stand is very clear. We want a stable government in TN. And the Centre is willing to support the state irrespective of which party is in power,” he told.

He would be happy if the AIADMK factions come together and work for the welfare of the people. The Minister came down heavily on the DMK for its remarks.