BBMP tom-toms a message
SAYS DESPITE 2 NOTICES, Sigma MALL FAILED TO PAY PROPERTY TAX
On Wednesday(28-12-2011) morning, Cunningham Road reverberated to the beats of drums. The drum beaters stood in front of the Sigma mall and created quite a racket for some time and placards with “Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Vasanthanagara sub-division, Arrears property tax collection team,” were on display. This was BBMP’s way of embarrassing tax defaulters.
Fed up with issuing notices which are ignored, the Palike hit upon this novel idea this year to recover tax dues. A BBMP team along with 10 traditional 'thamate' beaters descended on the mall in the morning. Satya Bama, deputy commissioner BBMP, East zone, said: “We have organized the drumbeat to draw people’s attention. We have given two notices to the mall owners to pay the tax. But still they didn't pay it. The arrears have to be paid before the end of March and 2% penalty is imposed per month.”
“This property is under IDEB. They have not paid the tax at the due time. The total dues are Rs 5.5 crore including the interest,” said N Narasappa, assistant revenue officer, Vasanthnagar Range, East Zone. “If dues are not paid, trade licence will be cancelled and the shops will be locked,” he said. Of the 122 shops in the mall, only 41 have paid the tax so far.
“We have been telling the shop owners to pay the tax. But they give their own reasons. Some of them are not here, some of them don't respond to our calls. It is up to the owners to respond,” said the mall management officer.
THE FIRST BEAT The drum beating took off on 100 feet road Indiranagar on September 23 was in front of a building in HAL II Stage - home to two multinational companies and four commercial complexes. The property owner was getting a monthly rent of Rs 22 lakh, but failed to pay tax, said BBMP officials. The drumming had impact and the property owner met BBMP's joint commissioner, east zone, and gave a written statement that he'll pay half of the tax money within two days. He was given time till September 25 to pay the complete amount.
NO DEFAMING "We have no intention of defaming anyone. Though there are no such provisions in the KMC act, we have got strict instructions from the commissioner to conduct such drives in front of the properties of huge defaulters. This is the first attempt and will be continued across the city, till we recover Rs 250 crore which is due to the corporation from defaulters." —J Francis | REVENUE OFFICER WHO INITIATED THE DRIVE THE DRUM BEATERS They were hired from Vasanthnagar. Most of them are self-trained drummers who perform on any occasion. BBMP hires them for a specific number of hours on contract. They were paid Rs 5,000 for three hours
Fed up with issuing notices which are ignored, the Palike hit upon this novel idea this year to recover tax dues. A BBMP team along with 10 traditional 'thamate' beaters descended on the mall in the morning. Satya Bama, deputy commissioner BBMP, East zone, said: “We have organized the drumbeat to draw people’s attention. We have given two notices to the mall owners to pay the tax. But still they didn't pay it. The arrears have to be paid before the end of March and 2% penalty is imposed per month.”
“This property is under IDEB. They have not paid the tax at the due time. The total dues are Rs 5.5 crore including the interest,” said N Narasappa, assistant revenue officer, Vasanthnagar Range, East Zone. “If dues are not paid, trade licence will be cancelled and the shops will be locked,” he said. Of the 122 shops in the mall, only 41 have paid the tax so far.
“We have been telling the shop owners to pay the tax. But they give their own reasons. Some of them are not here, some of them don't respond to our calls. It is up to the owners to respond,” said the mall management officer.
THE FIRST BEAT The drum beating took off on 100 feet road Indiranagar on September 23 was in front of a building in HAL II Stage - home to two multinational companies and four commercial complexes. The property owner was getting a monthly rent of Rs 22 lakh, but failed to pay tax, said BBMP officials. The drumming had impact and the property owner met BBMP's joint commissioner, east zone, and gave a written statement that he'll pay half of the tax money within two days. He was given time till September 25 to pay the complete amount.
NO DEFAMING "We have no intention of defaming anyone. Though there are no such provisions in the KMC act, we have got strict instructions from the commissioner to conduct such drives in front of the properties of huge defaulters. This is the first attempt and will be continued across the city, till we recover Rs 250 crore which is due to the corporation from defaulters." —J Francis | REVENUE OFFICER WHO INITIATED THE DRIVE THE DRUM BEATERS They were hired from Vasanthnagar. Most of them are self-trained drummers who perform on any occasion. BBMP hires them for a specific number of hours on contract. They were paid Rs 5,000 for three hours
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