BENGALURU: Just a few days after CM Siddaramaiah assured that no new tax will be levied, the citizens of Bengaluru are in a for double whammy as the BBMP is contemplating on increasing Solid Waste Management cess and revise the property tax.
In order to tide over the financial crisis the civic body is taxing citizens and business establishments to increase revenue to the BBMP’s exchequer. As if that is not enough, the state government is planning to levy transport tax and the BBMP will revise property tax by 20 per cent for residential structures and 25 per cent for commercial buildings. Property tax zones (slabs) will also be revised.
Subodh Yadav, Special Commissioner (SWM) told Deccan Chronicle that the current SWM cess was very less and has not been revised for the last three years. The revision will be nominal for residential structures and on the higher side for commercial establishments.
The BBMP has been spending huge money on disposal and processing of solid waste generated across the city. It will do away with the categories such as individual and bulk generators of garbage. However, segregation will be mandatory, he said.
The trade licence fee has been hiked, ranging from 100 to 500 per cent on commercial activities such as bakeries, confectioneries, hotels, paying guest accommodations, saloon and others.
N. Mukund, secretary, Citizens’ Action Forum wondered why should BBMP burden citizens with more cess and taxes when the civic body has failed to collect tax from evaders. The garbage management has become messy in the city. Instead of solving it, the BBMP is taxing the public.
“The honest tax payers are made to cough up more, but tax evaders continue to enjoy. Revenue and tax inspectors should collect more tax from residential buildings, which are put to commercial use. They are still paying residential tax, causing loss to the BBMP. Revision should be scientific and not arbitrary,” he said.
M. Shivaraju, Chairman, Taxation and Finance committee said that revision of property tax will fetch an addition of Rs 600 crore to the BBMP. It has not been revised for the last five years. The money can be utilised for improving civic infrastructure and to tide over the financial crisis, he added.
