A day after the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Opposition Leader M.K. Gunashekar accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of moving to increase property tax, K.A. Muneendra Kumar, chairperson of the Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance, claimed that the BJP was also not in favour of hiking the rates.
Speaking to journalists here on Saturday, he conceded that BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah had sent the proposal to hike the tax rates to the committee. “However, we have not taken any decision in the matter. We only proposed the matter for discussion in the BBMP council.”
Mr. Siddaiah had sent a proposal to increase the tax rate by 15 to 30 per cent as the block period of the Unit Area Value system comes to an end this March.
Meanwhile, it is said that the BJP councillors have been taken to task by Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, who is also the city in charge, for proposing such a “sensitive subject” ahead of the urban local body and Assembly elections, apprehending it would dent the party’s prospects.
Mr. Kumar said the BBMP’s drumbeating programme had helped it recover dues from several defaulters.
The drumbeaters would once again visit Vrundavan Tech Village on Outer Ring Road to recover property tax arrears.
The standing committee also plans to inspect Le Meridien and assess whether the tax has been paid correctly.
