Bengaluru: Bengaluru city incharge and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that there would not be any hike in property tax in Bengaluru city for now but a new team will be constituted for tax collection especially keeping an eye on tax evaders.
Continuing, he said, a survey will also be conducted to get exact details of property owned by individuals and the residents will be told to pay taxes based on the property they own. By such measures, he exuded confidence that tax collection of Bengaluru city would go up by 3 times from the present tax collection.
The DyCM, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, stated that an eye will be kept on tax evasion and observed that property owners often state less construction area than the actual figure while the power and water bills of a property reveal that a particular person had stated less construction area.
Regarding drinking water supply to Bengaluru city, he said there has been growing demand for water and the works on Cauvery 5th stage is nearing completion and after its completion, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that Bengaluru city residents would be getting 750 million litres daily (mld) in coming days.
Shivakumar stated that 20 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) will be upgraded to treat effluent water and the treated water would be supplied to Anekal and Attibelle region.
The DyCM stated taking-up of road-widening in Bengaluru city is a difficult task since it takes huge amount of money to pay for compensation for land losers and also some owners and others oppose. Even, there are some technical issues involved in road-widening. At this juncture, he said, construction of more flyovers, Metro rails and tunnel construction are only options left to ease vehicular congestion in Bengaluru city.
He said to launch a help desk and a website “Sahaya Hasta” (Helping Hand) to receive complaints from the residents apart from complaining to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The complaints to “Sahaya Hasta” will be monitored by staff at his District incharge office and also the office of Deputy Chief Minister.
Over maintenance of parks and grounds in Bengaluru city, he said, a committee, a non-political one, would be constituted under the supervision of a local officer to maintain a park its cleanliness, development, prevent its encroachment among other issues and regarding the issue, he assured to discuss with the respective MLAs to prepare a plan of action.
Shivakumar said he has given a free hand to officials concerned of BBMP to clear any obstruction for smooth flow of storm water especially in Information Technology corridors of the city so that people do not gace problems experienced in the past seasons.
