Now double tax on violations

Now double tax on violations
S Kushala and R Jayaprakash | TNN

Bangalore: The ambitious Sakrama — building regularisation scheme — may have come as a breather for owners of buildings with violations. But till it gets off the ground and cases are settled, the BBMP has decided to milch the cow.
With the Capital Value System (CVS) of taxation coming into force for new and unassessed properties, the BBMP has decided to levy double the property tax for buildings with deviations and properties on revenue lands. This will be with retrospective effect — from the date an application is given to electricity supply company for metered power supply.
Under section 112 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, the authority can levy twice the property tax for violated properties that are unassessed.
How does it work: The BBMP will scrutinise applications received under Sakrama scheme, and verify if the buildings are already in the tax net, unassessed or new. For unassessed and new buildings, owners will have to pay double the tax as penalty till their properties get a clean chit.
“It’s a penalty for using public facilities at the cost of honest tax payers. So, the Act has given us this provision. This move is aimed at curbing further unauthorised constructions. But because they pay double the tax, it does not mean their properties are regularised,’’ BBMP commissioner S Subramanya told The Times of India.
Till the applications are processed, the deviated properties cannot be treated on par with structures built in accordance with the rule book.
The BBMP is expecting nearly four lakh applications under Sakrama. The last date to submit applications is December 14, after which the screening process will commence. The authorities are likely to mop up anywhere between Rs 500 crore and Rs 600 crore from Sakrama.
Taxing times
Double the property tax for new and unassessed buildings.
Penalty to be collected from the date of application for metered power.
Penalty does not mean regularisation of the property.