BBMP makes a killing

BBMP makes a killing
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The BBMP will become richer by around Rs 150 crore by deciding to collect betterment charges. Payment of betterment charges enables property owners to obtain khata for their revenue sites and come under the purview of civic body and get civic services provided by the BBMP. Providing a khata helps the BBMP bring them under the tax net.
The BBMP has started collecting betterment charges from property owners whose land has been converted from agricultural to non-agricultural purpose under the provisions of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. BBMP additional commissioner (revenue) Sandeep Das said there are around 1 lakh revenue sites in the BBMP area.
BBMP deputy commissioner (resources) U A Vasanth Rao said this charge would be utilised for providing civic services to newly added areas (seven CMCs, one TMC and 110 villages).
Earlier, local bodies collected betterment fee (also called improvement fee) from occupants of the property to provide a ‘holder khata’. Following a dispute, the issue went to the high court which directed the BBMP to stop issuing such khatas.
If owners have already paid the conversion fee, they can regularise their property by paying only betterment charges. Those who have not paid conversion fee have to pay both conversion fee and betterment charge to obtain a khata. Properties which fall under the green belt or reserved for some purpose or acquired by the government will not be regularised.
BETTERMENT CHARGES
Rs 200 per sq m for properties measuring 60 sq m and below Rs 400 per sq m for properties measuring between 60 m and 120 m Rs 600 per sq m for properties measuring above 120 sq m
Exemption
Properties developed by BDA, KHB, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, Karnataka Small Scale Industries Corporation and Slum Board and those built under the Ashraya, Ambedkar and Rajiv Gandhi housing schemes are exempted from paying betterment charges