Mayor Manjula Akkur has instructed the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) officials to carry out a survey to identify buildings that have come up illegally and have been left out of the tax net within the city limits.
In her ruling over the construction of illegal buildings causing huge revenue loss to the HDMC at the general body meeting here on Monday, Ms. Akkur assured the house that all such buildings would be identified and brought under the tax net as early as possible.
Raising the issue in the House, members Ganesh Tagarganti, Manjunath Chittaginjal, Sudhir Saraf and others, pointed out that several buildings housing educational institutions, wedding halls and godowns have been constructed without obtaining permission from the municipal authorities. These were huge buildings and no tax was being paid by their owners. The officials did not initiate any action against them. Moreover, the officials have no information about the number and location of such buildings, they said.
Accusing the officials of being hand-in-glove with the building owners, Mr. Saraf asked why no notices had been issued so far to such buildings. He said several godowns have come up in Gabbur area too. Mr. Tagaragunti said an educational institution had built a huge building without HDMC permission.
Member Lakshman Savadi suggested undertaking the GSI survey to identify such buildings. However, Pandurang Patil said the GSI survey was used mainly for town planning. It would be of no help in identifying illegal buildings at a time when the HDMC officials have no data of the property registration.
The HDMC had already implemented the Self Assessment Scheme (SAS). Under SAS, the public only assess their property and pay the tax. It was dereliction of duty on part of tax officials if any property were left out from the tax net, he pointed out.
Going by the members’ observations, attempts are being made to protect errant officials, he said, pointing fingers at Congress members.
This in turn enraged the officials, who proceeded to disrupt the meeting, leading to pandemonium in the House and cross talk between BJP and Congress members.
Upset over this, Mr. Patil walked out of the meeting. Floor leader Ramanna Badiger and Congress member Ganesh Tagargunti and others approached Mr. Patil and brought him back to the meeting.
