In January 2022, the Karnataka Cabinet had decided to protect over 78,000 citizens from incorrect property tax claims due to faulty zonal classification by the BBMP. However, the order by the government is yet to see the light of day and citizens are running out of patience.
Protests have been going on even before 2022. In a bid to resolve this issue, the Bengaluru Navanirmana Party (BNP) organised a physical and virtual demonstration involving hundreds of people in September 2021 and also collated an online petition that garnered thousands of signatures and successfully got the attention of the Government of Karnataka, leading to the Cabinet’s decision in 2022.
However, administrative delays continue, and citizens pointed out that they are still receiving penalty notifications on account of glitches in the BBMP.
Kiran Srinivas, Resident of Gayatrinagar said, “We have been served with notices for no mistake of ours. Although BBMP assured us that the penalty would be waived, the portal still shows a fine amount being added. The penalties and interest on almost one lakh citizens run from tens of thousands up to several lakhs of rupees. If the government fails to pass the order immediately, citizens will give a befitting answer to the government at the ballot box in the coming elections.”
Sridhar Comaravalli, cartoonist, and a resident of JP Nagar said that two -three years ago, he received notice for the wrong classification of the property. I got a notice that I must pay Rs 24,549 due to wrong classification. I was shocked as I pay my taxes on time.”
On March 7, BNP wrote a letter to the Special Revenue Commissioner of the BBMP requesting him to expedite the issue of GO and also provide a copy of the proposal that the BBMP submitted to the government about the matter. However, BBMP is yet to respond.
Lalithamba from BNP said, “Neither there is any official notification received in compliance with the decision nor is there any clarity on whether or when a suitable government order (GO) is likely to be issued. The government should issue the order and BBMP should fix the flaws in its IT system.