Bengaluru, March 10 The opposition BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of "property tax terrorism" against the people of Bengaluru, with 24,874 properties in the city being issued show-cause notices based on an ongoing drone survey.
Responding to the issue raised by Jayanagar BJP MLA C K Ramamurthy during Question Hour, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is in charge of Bengaluru Development, promised to "rectify" any discrepancies and rejected the allegations of "tax terrorism".
Claiming that 3,000-4,000 notices have been issued based on the drone survey in his constituency, asking people to pay tax properly, Ramamurthy said, "Even roofs and water tanks are being taxed as captured by drone cameras.....One house has received a notice for Rs 30 lakh."
Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar said that everything – setbacks, parking space, roofs – is being taxed with retrospective effect. "This is nothing but property tax terrorism. The common man is suffering. I urge the Deputy CM to withdraw it."
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka asked Shivakumar to revert to physical verification.
"Don't indulge in tax terrorism, it is not right....such taxes are uncivilised. Do a physical survey and fix tax based on it," he said.
Shivakumar, in his response, clarified that roofs, stairs and car parking space will not be taxed. "If there is something like that, I will withdraw it."
Noting that the drone survey is being done to identify existing mismatches, he said, "For example, people with two floors have declared only one floor."
The Deputy CM further said, "Based on the notices that have been issued, we have estimated recovering Rs 688 crore." Still, if people file objections, instructions will be given to municipal corporations to set things right, he added.
