Despite requests, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided not to extend the 5% rebate on property tax, which was offered to owners who paid property tax in the first month of the 2019-20 financial year — from April 1 to 30 this year.
Some residents’ groups had appealed to the civic body to extend the rebate till the end of May, claiming that with BBMP officials deputed for election duty for a large part of April, they were unable to seek their help with property tax payment.
B.S. Manohar, vice-president of Basavanagudi Residents’ Welfare Association, told The Hindu that the association had even written to the BBMP urging the civic body to extend the rebate period.
“Citizens, who are not computer literate, have no option but to approach the ward offices to get a challan generated for property tax payment. Till April 20, the BBMP’s revenue officials were busy with the Lok Sabha elections. They were available in the revenue and ward offices only after that,” he said, adding that even bank officials had been deputed for poll duty.
The BBMP’s Special Commissioner (Finance) D. Randeep said that with the Model Code of Conduct in place till May 25, the BBMP cannot make any announcement about extending the rebate period.
Last year, a similar situation played out when the Assembly elections were held, recalled Prakash D.R. from Osborne Road Residents’ Welfare Association.
“However, the rebate period was not extended. In the earlier years, the rebate period had also been extended till June,” he said.
Citizens need not approach the ward offices to pay property tax. “Those who are computer illiterate can go to any cyber café to generate challans and remit the payment in the banks,” said Mr. Prakash.
