GHMC’s bill collectors and tax inspectors went into unannounced strike mode on Tuesday, saying they could not risk their lives in view of heat-wave conditions prevailing in the city.
This was after they had submitted a representation to GHMC Commissioner M. Dana Kishore on Monday, requesting him for exemption from outdoor duties till June 5. Majority of them are presently working on a survey for physical verification and reassessment of properties.
Immediately after finishing the collection of property tax on April 30, the staff were asked to take up a survey for reassessment of property tax for establishments paying ₹1,200 to ₹1 lakh of property tax. Many of these are suspected of hosting commercial establishments, despite being registered as residential.
Bill collectors and tax inspectors were asked to physically verify each property under the said payment bracket, to know its nature — residential, commercial or mixed. They were asked to check for trade licence too, in case of commercial establishments. The exercise began on May 6.
About 150 tax inspectors, 350 bill collectors and 90 assistant bill collectors are working on the survey.
“There have been recent instances where our staff members collapsed because of heatstroke. We are fortunate not to have had any fatalities so far. For the reassessment, we will have to visit only after 11 a.m., when the shops would open,” said Srinivas Goud from Bhagyanagar Municipal Employees Union, which had submitted the representation.
While the commissioner promised to look into the issue and asked the employees to resume their duties till he took a decision, the staff stayed back from the survey on Tuesday.
