Deputy chief minister and Bengaluru city development minister DK Shivakumar, who reviewed the working of BBMP on Monday, said the government is considering hiking property tax in the IT City.
Shivakumar said the civic body had prepared a detailed proposal to hike property tax in the city before assembly elections. The officials submitted the proposal to him.
“I have received the proposal and will examine it before making a decision,” said Shivakumar.
He asked BBMP officials not to depend on the government for funds to take up developmental works. “The Union government has already stopped giving funds for Bengaluru city. So, BBMP should avoid tax leakage and maintain its resources by collecting taxes,” the DyCM said.
Palike officials said property tax collection target for 2023-24 is Rs 4,790 crore, including cesses. In 2022-23, the civic body collected over Rs 3,800 crore, while the target was Rs 4,189 crore. The mop-up will increase if the state government gives a green sigal to BBMP’s proposal to hike property tax, they added.
Shivakumar held a BBMP review meeting for more than three hours. He asked engineers from the road infrastructure department to submit before and after photos and videos as proof of the work they have done. He also directed engineer-in-chief BS Prahalad to submit complete details of the works taken up in the city over the last five years.
BBMP administrator Rakesh Singh, chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, special commissioners, engineers, and senior officials were present at the review meeting.
Shivakumar also held a review meeting with BDA officials and instructed them to ensure there is no corruption in the agency. He said new layouts should be developed and directed officials to quickly complete all ongoing works.
