The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has made the decision to implement Light Detection and Ranging technology (LiDAR) to enhance property tax collection. LiDAR accurately measures property boundaries by utilizing 3D imaging to map various areas, including the number of floors, changes in land use, and water bodies. This technology aids in ensuring precise calculations of property taxes.
MCC conducts property surveys using drones, which assists in identifying unauthorized structures and incorporating them into the tax system. In the current financial year, MCC has collected Rs 237 crore in property tax from nearly two lakh households and commercial establishments. With the implementation of LiDAR-based GIS property mapping, this amount is anticipated to rise by 30% to Rs 300 crore.
Similarly, water tax collection is projected to increase to Rs 90 crore from the current Rs 60 crore. A team of specialists from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Calicut, which has successfully applied this technology for tax assessment in cities like Varanasi and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, provided a demonstration to MCC officials during their recent visit to the city.
Subsequently, MCC submitted a proposal to the state urban development department and the state government, requesting authorization to utilize this technology. In an interview with TOI, MCC commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif stated that once the state government grants permission for the deployment of LiDAR, MCC will issue a tender and award the contract for mapping all its properties.
“Although Varanasi is a smaller city, it achieved a record amount of property and water cess collection by adopting this technology. This technology facilitates the tracking of unreported alterations and violations, including the construction of additional floors beyond the approved plans,” the MCC Commissioner further remarked.
