Citizen federation opposes property tax increase

CAF proposes a plan to resolve critical issues plaguing the city.

Citizen Action Forum (CAF), a federation of Residents Welfare Associations in Bangalore, is starting a campaign to highlight what it calls “misplaced priorities of BBMP, BWSSB and the state government” and to propose a plan to resolve critical issues plaguing the city.

CAF POSITIONS

TAXES: BBMP should not increase property tax rates. It should first widen the tax base and increase the revenues from sources like rental income from BBMP properties, licensing fees, taxes on hoardings etc. It is estimated that only 40% of the properties are paying taxes amounting to Rs 900 Crores. BBMP should also demand 8% of the total amount of taxes collected by the state and central governments in Bangalore, as per 74th constitutional amendment. The full potential is therefore about Rs.2250 Crores.

WATER: Supply treated waste water for all non-potable usage. This will effectively bring down the demand for filtered water. It should be mandated that all new layouts, huge apartment blocks to have twin water supply lines to facilitate the circulation of treated water.
Revive existing lakes as a completely interconnected system of lakes. Clear Rajakaluve encroachments or create alternative interconnections. Stop illegal letting in of sewage into the storm water drains: this will enable rainwater collected in huge lakes to be piped through water treatment plants for supply of drinking water. Revive the Hesaraghatta lake and Arkavathy river system; it can take care of 25% of our requirement.

SOLID WASTE: Only 10% of city waste is recycled currently. If waste is segregated at source, 40%-50% of dry waste can be recycled. Every ward should have a dry waste collection centre, which pays for plastic, paper etc., so that there is incentive for segregation. If garden and leaf waste is composted locally, it reduces waste by another 10-15%. There is enough capacity in current landfills to compost the remaining pure wet waste. The compost can be given back to villages for agriculture.

Following several zonal meetings held around the city, CAF is holding a city level meeting to take next steps. RWAs and concerned citizens are welcome.

~~~

Citizen Action Forum, 
cordially invites you to an interactive workshop on
Property Taxes, Water & Solid Waste Management – A citizens’ Perspective


3.30 pm Sat, 19 Feb, Senate Hall, Central College
For more details click here

Shared by CAF members: N S Mukunda, N Mukund and Meenakshi Bharat.

Comments:

  1. A PRAKASH MALLYA says:

    BBMP had full three years time to identify the property owners who have either not paid or paid inadequate tax by improper declaration,but they have hardly done anything in this direction.
    Before considering any hike to honest tax payers they must bring to record dishonest property owners. after this process is completed they must think revision of tax rates etc

  2. a p suresh babu says:

    This is a good initiative by CAF. CAF has been very right in advocating widening the tax base of BBMP through rental income from BBMP properties, licensing fees, taxes on hoardings etc., rather than increasing property tax.

    Regarding, waste management, people still lack the bassic awareness in keeping their envirornment or neighbourhood clean. Throwing garbage anywhere and everywhere should stop. In this regard, Resident Welfare Associations, should make serious efforts to create awareness in their respective areas.

  3. a p suresh babu says:

    This is a good initiative by CAF. CAF has been very right in advocating widening the tax base of BBMP through rental income from BBMP properties, licensing fees, taxes on hoardings etc., rather than increasing property tax.

    Regarding, waste management, people still lack the basic awareness in keeping their envirornment or neighbourhood clean. Throwing garbage anywhere and everywhere should stop. In this regard, Resident Welfare Associations, should make serious efforts to create awareness in their respective areas.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

City Buzz: Diwali-led pollution spike in Delhi | Municipal green bonds issue… and more

Other news: AQI round-up in cities; Lancet report highlights risks to India from extreme heat; office rents surge to pre-pandemic levels.

Delhi world's 'most polluted' city post Diwali: Study Delhi's Diwali night blazed with colours and high-decibel firecrackers. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) department received a record number of 318 distress or emergency calls of fire accidents, out of which 280 were alerts. According to Swiss firm IQ Air, the air quality index stood at over 345 shortly after dawn, in the "hazardous" category, with New Delhi at the top of a real-time global list as the world's most-polluted city. However, on November 1st, Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed gratitude to Delhiites for "largely refraining from bursting firecrackers" on Deepavali, which helped…

Similar Story

How to save a neighbourhood park — Mumbaikars show the way with Patwardhan Park

A detailed account of how citizens got city authorities to reverse their decision to build an underground parking lot under a park in Bandra.

On September 22nd, the playground on the Raosaheb Patwardhan Park resembled a happy space where people gathered to enjoy and chat, children played football, a few played badminton or even hula hoops. A group jived over Zumba dance moves, while others danced to the live percussion music. The crowd had gathered to celebrate the playground being saved from the clutches of cemented development. A cake was cut to celebrate the occasion. Elected representatives from all the major political parties, Varsha Gaikwad, Mumbai head of the Congress, Priyanka Chaturvedi from the Shiv Sena and even Ashish Shelar, the local Bharatiya Janata…