BENGALURU: A huge relief is in store for Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) flat owners who throng BDA offices for payment of property tax. The authority has now decided that property tax will be assessed and collected by revenue officials at a common venue within the neighbourhood of your flat.
A decision to this effect was taken by BDA Commissioner
Rajkumar Khatri early this week, said BDA Secretary N Shivashankar. “The BDA will notify residents of flats in advance about the specific date when revenue officials will visit their area. This will apply only in the case of group housing,” he said.
According to sources, BDA has already registered around 2,500 flats spread across Valagerahalli, Doddabanahalli, Alur, Nandini Layout, Malagala and Halage Vaderahalli. “These owners will be the immediate beneficiaries,” he added.
BDA is also in the process of registering or building another 3,000 flats in these areas as well as at Gunjur and Kanminike. All these owners will benefit by the decision. Flats developed by BDA in the heart of the city have already been handed over to BBMP for maintenance.
“The decision has been taken due to numerous discrepancies on amount to the paid that have cropped up with regard to property tax assessments. Individuals with houses of same dimensions are asked to pay different amounts as taxes,” the sources said.
The move will also ease the process of payment for the public, who visit the local BDA offices repeatedly for assessment of their property.
BDA Member Secretary P N Nayak said khata (legally accepted ownership document) will also be issued for those who are yet to be given the same in the course of such neighbourhood visits.
After the sub-registrar completes the registration of property in the name of an individual, the BDA issues a possession certificate. The ownership is deemed complete only when the khata is issued by BDA in the name of the owner.
BDA official shunted over bribe allegations
BDA Commissioner Dr Rajkumar Khatri has decided to transfer Revenue Inspector of Vijaynagar BDA office, H Murthy, sources said. During a grievances meet held at the office on August 6, residents alleged bribe demands made by Revenue officials, particularly Murthy, to make an assessment
of the property tax they needed to pay.
It is not clear as to which area Murthy has been posted. When asked for the reasons for the transfer, BDA Secretary N Shivashankar said, “It was on charges of harassing the people.”