We have to cough up more tax, residents complain

We have to cough up more tax, residents complain
Bangalore, DHNS:
The withdrawal of hike in property tax rate by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has apparently not brought any cheers to residents of many old City Municipal Council (CMC) areas, which were brought under the BBMP.


For instance, some areas of Rajarajeshwari Nagar have been brought under the E-Zone, though the property prices there have hit the roof. The guidance value has also gone up accordingly. These areas were part of the 110 villages that were later included in the BBMP.

The ex-councillor of the CMC area in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Pramila R Baliga told Deccan Herald that the merger of old CMC areas with the BBMP has resulted in enormous hike in property tax.

“Old CMC areas like the one in Rajarajeshwari Nagar were paying taxes on the basis of the Capital Value System (CVS). Though the CMC charged illegally as per the prevailing guidance value, the amount paid was not as high as the tax we have to cough up now,” said Pramila.

Areas surrounding the Ideal Homes Township, a gated community in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, have been brought under the E-Zone, said Pramila. According to her, the tax the residents of old CMC area in Rajarajeshwari Nagar will be paying now, is around 60 to 80 per cent higher than what they were paying previously.

A resident, Chokalingam had paid Rs 1,588 to the old CMC last year but this year, he is paying Rs 2,607.
“The increase is around 64 per cent,” said Pramila. Similarly Sudha Soma shekhara has a property spread in 1,400 square feet. Last year she paid Rs 1,862 as tax but this year she is paying Rs 3,291, said Pramila adding the increase is 76 pc.

Citing one more example, the ex-councillor said one Narayanan will be paying twice the amount he had paid last year. “Naray- anan had paid Rs 2,800 last year but this year he will be paying somewhere around Rs 5,600,” said Pramila.