BBMP: Record in property tax collection

 Collection crosses ₹4,000 crore; Target achievement four months away

BBMP: Record in property tax collection

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has collected more than ₹4,000 crore in property tax for the first time, creating a new record.

Although the amount collected in the entire period of the 2023-24 financial year is a record so far, it could not reach ₹4,000 crore. It also did not reach the target. With four months left for the end of the current financial year, more than ₹4,000 crore in property tax has been collected. ₹3,246.61 crore was collected by the end of December of the last financial year, which is 32.02% more than that.

In the current financial year, ₹3,828.64 crore in property tax is expected for 20.57 lakh properties. Out of this, ₹3,432.02 crore has been collected from 15,84,107 properties. ₹396.62 crore is yet to be collected from more than 4 lakh properties.

It was estimated that there are 73,615 properties that are out of tax or have not been assessed. Such properties are at their highest in Mahadevapura, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bommanahalli, Yelahanka zones. Out of these, ₹262.90 crore worth of property was to be paid this financial year. Out of this, only 140 properties have paid ₹13 lakh in tax. 

After Munish Moudgil became the Special Commissioner of Revenue, more emphasis was given to tax collection. He initiated processes like sending SMS to tax defaulters, calling them, issuing notices and locking and confiscating commercial buildings with high arrears. Also, the One Time Relief Scheme (OTS) has contributed a lot to the collection. 

There are still four months left for the financial year to end, and efforts will be made to achieve the target

Munish Moudgil, Special Commissioner, Revenue Department, BBMP

OTS: ₹399 crore collected

Out of 3.95 lakh property owners who were property tax defaulters, 1.82 lakh owners have availed the One Time Relief Scheme (OTS) and have paid ₹399.17 crore. Even though the OTS ended on November 30, 2.12 lakh property owners are still defaulters and have to pay ₹334.44 crore excluding interest and penalty.

82,842 properties with the highest property tax arrears have been put under the ‘debt’ process and 6,676 commercial buildings have been sealed.

The tax of 15,731 properties has been revised and ₹398.49 crore was fixed. Of this, 9,202 properties have paid ₹114.74 crore (till Dec. 7). 

• 2,12,515; Property tax defaulters
• ₹334.44 crore; Amount to be collected from defaulters
• 4,73,700; Properties subject to tax for the current financial year
• ₹396.62 crore; Property tax due for the current financial year

Property tax collection figures

Year; Target; Collection

2020–21; ₹3,500 crore; ₹2,800 crore

2021–22; ₹4,000 crore; ₹3,110 crore

2022–23; ₹4,189 crore; ₹3,340 crore

2023–24; ₹4,558 crore; ₹3,900 crore

2024-25 target; ₹5,210 crore; ₹4,286 crore (till December 7, 2024)

Property tax collection (till December 7)

Area; Target; Collection; Amount

Mahadevapura;₹1,309.04 crore; 1,154.49 crore; 88.19%

East;₹891.89 crore;₹715.97 crore; 80.28%

South;₹769.50 crore;₹617.77 crore; 80.28%

West;₹610.39 crore;₹486.47 crore; 79.70%

Yelahanka;₹445.24 crore;₹415.08 crore; 93.23%

Bommanahalli;₹585.11 crore;₹421.67 crore; 72.07%

Rajarajeshwarinagar;₹434.35 crore;₹337.80 crore; 77.77%

Dasarahalli;₹164.95 crore;₹138.79 crore; 82.93%

Total;₹5,210.48 crore;₹4,286.04 crore; 82.26%

E-khata: Complicated if there is no document

E-khata: Complicated if there is no document

28 lakh properties; Sites and buildings under BBMP

23 lakh; Draft e-account of properties uploaded on BBMP website

6 lakh; Draft e-account downloaded by owners

30 thousand properties; Documents uploaded online

21,369 properties; Final e-account downloaded

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

In Bengaluru city, there are layouts approved by the Corporation and BDA within BBMP limits. There are sites and buildings allotted by housing organizations including Karnataka Housing Corporation. Development fee and approved map documents are available for these sites and buildings. These have to be entered while obtaining e-account. E-account is being made available as they are documents of government organizations.

Since e-khata is required for property sales, loans and other property registration processes, BBMP has started separate centers in all wards to complete the e-khata process of such property owners in a day. If the property owner provides all the documents, the e-khata will be available immediately. Even if there is not a single document, the process is not over.

What is the main problem?

In Bangalore, there are lands converted from agricultural land (DC conversion), lands acquired by BDA and abandoned, converted and unconverted lands, and there are plots created on agricultural land (Revenue). There are village areas that have come under the jurisdiction of BBMP from the municipality and the city council. Since everything was manual while getting A-khata or B-khata, the accounts are available even though there are no documents. Building maps are not being provided to those who have B-khata. Therefore, when getting e-khata, when you choose building with site, you have to upload the sanctioned map. Since it is not there, everything is managed online by the software, e-Khata is not available.

Now, in apartments, an approved map needs to be uploaded even when getting an e-Khata for each unit (flat). This is not available to most flat owners. Moreover, some apartments have more floors than the approved map. Although manual Khata is available for them, all the documents need to be uploaded to get e-Khata. E-Khata is not available due to lack of documents.

How is e-Khata available?

If the owners of the plots and buildings with A-Khata in the BBMP area upload the property tax, development fee and approved maps during the process of getting e-Khata, then e-Khata will be easily available online in a single day. Even if there is no document, e-Khata will not be approved.

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has already issued e-accounts for the plots of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. To get e-accounts for plots or buildings of other layouts, you can apply online at Seva Sindhu. However, not everything can be done online. After this, you can get e-accounts only after meeting BDA officials in person and submitting documents. E-accounts can also be obtained through the same process for BDA approved plots and layouts.

BBMP e-Khata: Process/ Documents

Draft e-Khata: Download the draft e-Khata from the BBMP website (https://bbmpeaasthi.karnataka.gov.in/).

Registration: Register with mobile and OTP.

Start document submission: Start the process of submitting documents to get the final e-Khata through the EPID mentioned in the draft e-Khata.

Property Tax Receipt: Property information will be available if the tax payment number is entered

Purchase Deed Number: If the number is entered, the information will be linked from the Cauvery software

EC Certificate : If the property is to be sold, the documents EC - Encumbrance Certificate  so far should be submitted

E-KYC: Aadhaar number should be linked. Accordingly, photograph and mobile number will be registered

Property Location: The location of the property should be identified on the e-Khata process website with latitude and longitude information. A picture of the property-building should be uploaded.

Documents: Documents of the allotted institution, payment of property development fee, receipt of fee paid there if it has come to the local bodies, approved building plan should be uploaded.

E-Sign: After uploading all the documents, the application should be submitted through e-sign (provide Aadhaar number, OTP).

Confirmation Letter: After submitting the e-signed application, the submitted application and endorsement letter will be available under ‘Application Status’.

Approval: If all the documents are correct, the information about approval will be published under ‘Application Status’.

Final e-Khata: The approved final e-Khata can be downloaded by entering the property number (EPID) on the website (https://bbmpeaasthi.karnataka.gov.in/office/frmKhathaDownload.aspx) and paying a fee of ₹125

'Brand Bangalore' grant for roads

 Work under BBMP grant; 389 km road development by June end

'Brand Bangalore' grant for roads

• Expected to save ₹100 crore in tunnel road grant
• ₹300 crore from 'Brand Bangalore' grant
• ₹360 crore from other titles as per 'Revised Budget'

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: BBMP has decided to undertake all kinds of development work with the aim of making the Aterial and sub-arterial roads in the city ready by the next monsoon season. For this, the 'Brand Bangalore' grant has been cut.

There are a lot of potholes on the Aterial and sub-arterial roads, and no development work has been undertaken for five or six years. Even after repairing the potholes, they would reappear. Therefore, BBMP had decided to clear the surface layer and asphalt it.

Division-wise tender packages covering the assembly constituencies have been invited, and a deadline has been set for completing the work within six months. The tender period will end on December 25, and the BBMP intends to issue work orders to qualified contractors within the next 15 days.

The development work of the Aterial and sub-arterial roads is being undertaken by the BBMP's infrastructure department. Tenders have been invited from the respective zones, and its management has been entrusted to the zones themselves.

'The target is to complete the development work of the Aterial and sub-arterial roads by the end of May 2025. The aim is to complete all the work by the end of June, even if there are minor problems,' said BBMP Chief Engineer B.S. Prahlad.

Funding cut: The funds allocated for the 'Brand Bangalore' concept for the development project of the Aterial and sub-arterial roads have been cut. A total of ₹47.85 crore was provided for road development. An additional ₹600 crore was required. Of this, ₹300 crore has been provided under the Brand Bangalore-Sugama Sanchar Bangalore, Vibrant Bangalore, and Arogya Bangalore sections. The government has approved the remaining ₹360 crore to be met from the funds saved from other heads of the ‘Revised Budget’ for the year 2024-25.

₹880 crore was earmarked for ‘Sugama Sanchar’. Of this, ₹730 crore will be spent this year, including ₹100 crore out of the ₹200 crore for the tunnel road project and ₹50 crore out of the K-Ride project, resulting in a total saving of ₹150 crore. Similarly, ₹90 crore out of ₹265 crore for ‘Vibrant Bengaluru’ will remain, and ₹215 crore for ‘Arogya Bengaluru’ is expected to save, which has been provided for Aterial and sub-arterial roads development.

12,878 km; Length of road network under BBMP

1682.1 km; Total length of main, sub-main roads

389.68 km; Length of main, sub-main roads to be developed

₹694 crore; Total cost in nine sections

Development Model Design

A specific model design and improved maintenance system have been prepared for the development of main and sub-main roads. Accordingly, these works should be carried out.

• * Milling of damaged road surface
• * Installing NP-3 pipes in areas where there is no roadside drain to ensure smooth flow of rainwater. Completely clearing the silt from the drain and reconstructing the drain roof
• * Construction of grating to ensure smooth flow of water from the road to the drain
• * Construction of footpath with concrete base
• * Installation of curb stones to mark the road line and footpath on the roadside and leveling them.

Section; How many roads; How long; amount

East; 51; 76.85 km; ₹95 crore

West; 19; 23.40 km; ₹71.50 crore

South; 30; 34.90 km; ₹95 crore

Yalahanka;36;69.45 km;₹97.50 crore

Dasarahalli; 6; 14.10 km; ₹20 crore

Mahadevpur;30;82 km;₹140 crore

K.R. Pura; 8; 19.55 km; ₹35 crore

Bommanahalli;22;34.60 km;₹45 crore

Rajarajeshwari Nagar;16;34.83 km; ₹95 crore

Total; 218; 389.68 km; ₹694 crore

Pollution Control Board funds to prevent elephant menace

 Finance Department decides without KSPCB permission; Government order likely to be approved in board meeting on December 2

Pollution Control Board funds to prevent elephant menace

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The government has decided and ordered to transfer ₹426 crore from the board's account to the forest department without the approval of the State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) meeting and despite public objections.

The Finance Department has agreed to release ₹300 crore for railway barricade work in various districts of the state to prevent elephant menace and ₹126 crore for the K-Shore project without the permission of the State Pollution Control Board meeting.

'The State Pollution Control Board, which does not receive any grant from the state government, will have to bear all the expenses from its own revenue. If new staff are appointed, they will have to be given salary and allowances. Therefore, the board's ₹300 crore should not be given for afforestation and installation of barricades to prevent elephant menace. Also, the Accountant General has already objected to the board's contribution of ₹17 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Concerns were expressed in the board meeting held on September 9 that there is a possibility of objection even if ₹300 crore is given.

After this decision, the State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary wrote a letter to the board's Chief Financial Officer and said, "There is a proposal to provide money to the Forest Department through a loan. This is an environmentally friendly activity. The Forest Department is a revenue generating department and the financial decision is taken by the government's Finance Department. The board meeting that releases the money has expressed the concerns of the members. The Investment Committee held on September 19 has directed to write a letter to the government to take a decision. The objections received from the public have also been directed to be submitted to the government and the Finance Department."

The Pollution Control Board Member Secretary, who wrote a letter to the government's Principal Secretary of the Forest, Biology and Environment Department on October 9, has requested that a proposal be submitted to the Finance Department along with the Board meeting, Investment Committee proceedings, and public objections regarding the release of money.

The Finance Department, which has received a letter from the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department, has said that ‘₹200 crore can be obtained from the State Pollution Control Board for a period of four years at 7.5% simple interest. If the Forest Department wants to get another ₹100 crore, it can be obtained as a grant from the State Pollution Control Board.’ The Additional Secretary of the Finance Department has given approval (FD/621/EXP5/2024; FEE/427/EPC/2024) on November 27.

₹126 crore for K-Shore

‘For coastal Karnataka, the Forest Department can avail ₹126 crore as an interest-free loan from the State Pollution Control Board for plastic management and use it for the K-Shore project. The approval of the State Finance Department has been obtained,’ the Secretary of the Forest, Biodiversity and Environment Department issued an order (Government Order: FEE 41) on November 26.

No proposal has been submitted to the State Pollution Control Board for providing funds to K-Shore. There was no discussion in the board meeting. Approval has been given as per the proposal of the Forest Force Chief and Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department.

‘The decision of the board meeting is final’

‘No decision has been taken in the board meeting regarding providing funds to the Forest Department by the State Pollution Control Board. Despite the government orders, the decision taken in the meeting is final,’ said a senior State Pollution Control Board official who did not want to be named.

‘The 247th meeting of the board, which was to be held in the first week of November, was postponed until a new chairman is appointed. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of the acting chairman in the following days. It has been decided to hold the 248th meeting on December 2. The objection was raised that the government would approve what has already been ordered since the meeting was full of officers. 

‘The government cannot take action without a decision being taken in the meeting of the State Pollution Control Board first. No important decision can be taken in the absence of a chairman who is not appointed as per the law in a statutory body,’ said lawyer Rishab Truckru and some public figures in a letter to the Forest Minister, top officials of the department, and the Board Member Secretary. 

Computer, TV, fridge for the Minister’s office: Money from the board

For the daily use of the office of the Forest Department Minister’s private branch, 19 types of electronic equipment including computers, tabs, printers, TVs, UPSs, and fridges have been supplied with the money from the State Pollution Control Board. 

Based on the note of the Minister’s Officer on Special Duty, the Board Member Secretary has approved the supply of equipment worth about ₹72 lakh. 

No harm to the board: Ishwar Khandre

It has been decided to take up the work of afforestation and prevention of human-wildlife conflict by receiving ₹300 crore from the State Pollution Control Board. This is an environmentally friendly activity, for which the board has submitted a proposal to the Finance Department. The money collected by the Environment Board should be used for environmentally friendly activities. The purpose of the Forest Department and the board is the same. This is an internal adjustment. There is no harm to the board from this,' said Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre.

K-shore is a World Bank-sponsored project, under which plastic waste that is causing the death of aquatic animals in the sea will be curbed in three coastal districts. In addition, this money will also be used to grow Kandla forests to prevent sea erosion. The state government has to spend ₹126 crore, and the money will be received and spent in stages from the board. The World Bank will later repay it to the board, he said.

Ejipura Flyover: Instruction to impose fine on contractors

 Crack in Ejipur flyover: Estimates Committee orders strict action

Ejipura Flyover: Instruction to impose fine on contractors

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: ‘A segment in the Ejipur flyover work has cracked, and the previous contractors who did such poor work should be fined and legal action should be taken,’ the Assembly Estimates Committee has instructed BBMP officials.

Members led by Assembly Estimates Committee Chairman Hampanagouda Badarli inspected the Ejipur flyover work on November 22. They expressed concern about the crack appearing in the segment while it was being installed on the flyover. The BBMP officials were instructed to present all details in this regard before the committee.

M.T. Krishnappa, who chaired the Assembly Estimates Committee meeting held on Friday, took a dig at BBMP engineers for the poor work.

‘The work of the Ejipur flyover was carried out by Simplex Infrastructures Company in the initial stage. The segments built by these contractors cracked during installation. The loss due to this should be recovered from the previous contractors as a penalty. Legal action should be taken against them,’ M.T. Krishnappa told.

Three segments Crack in Ejipura Flyover Read…

‘Before the installation of all the segments built by the previous contractors in the Ejipur flyover work, an examination should be conducted by experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The Executive Engineer and Chief Engineer have been ordered to conduct a third-party inspection,’ he said.

‘The flyover work was supposed to be completed by February 2025. However, the previous contractor did poor construction. This has created concerns that it will pose a danger to the citizens. Therefore, the new contractor should be instructed to complete the work by October 2025. "Security and protection are most important above all," he said.

‘Anti Smog Gun’ to Control Air Pollution

•  8 Total ‘Anti Smog Gun’ Machine
• 45 km to 60 km ‘Anti Smog Gun’ Traffic per Day
• 6000 Liters Water Storage in Each ‘Anti Smog Gun’

‘Anti Smog Gun’ to Control Air Pollution

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: BBMP is using ‘Anti Smog Gun’ machines to control pollution on roads with high air pollution in the city.

Air pollution is increasing day by day in the city, and in the wake of controlling it, some steps are being taken by the BBMP Road Infrastructure Department. ‘Anti Smog Gun’ is one of them.

‘Anti Smog Gun’ machines are being used in areas where there is a lot of construction and areas with high air pollution. A vehicle equipped with this machine travels about 60 km every day. "As air pollution is increasing in Delhi, precautionary measures are being taken to prevent such a situation from happening in the city," said Principal Engineer B.S. Prahlad, Chief Engineer, Road Infrastructure.

"Water is being used for 'anti-smog gun' machines from the 5 MLD wastewater treatment plant built by BBMP in Koramangala-100 Valley," he said.

BDA: E-Khata Service SUSPENDED

 E-Khata application not registered for 15 days on SevaSindhu portal

BDA: E-Khata suspended; Owners in distress

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority, which is still slow in implementing the online system, has suspended issuing e-Khata. Property owners have been struggling for 15 days without getting e-Khata.

The Revenue Department has made e-Khata mandatory for sale of plots and any kind of registration. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has taken several steps to issue e-Khata. However, the BDA has woken up late and has now started the process of changing the software.

The BDA, which has fewer plots or buildings under its jurisdiction than the BBMP, has not implemented any system including plans and khata completely online except for property tax payment. Although e-khata has been provided to the plots of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL), not everything in it is connected to the ‘Kaveri Software’ of the Revenue Department.

To get e-khata for BDA plots or buildings, one could apply on the government’s ‘Seva Sindhu’ portal. After uploading some documents including purchase/lease deed, khata, there was a system to go to the concerned BDA office and verify the documents and get e-khata there. However, this process has also been stopped now.

If one tries to apply for BDA’s e-khata on the ‘Seva Sindhu’ portal, a message saying ‘Khata service is not available on November 15 and 16 due to data management’ is being received even on November 25. Due to this, property owners are facing difficulties.

‘E-khata has been made mandatory for property sales. However, BDA has stopped the process of issuing e-khata. I am facing difficulties as I am unable to sell the property and complete the predetermined financial transaction,” said Ramesh from Jayanagar.

“I have applied for a loan on a BDA site for my children’s higher education. Everything has been approved. However, the site needs to be registered as a debt with the bank. But the sub-registrar is saying that registration is not possible without an e-khata. BDA officials have been saying for the past 10 days that the software is being updated,” said Ravikishore from Rajajinagar.

‘Everything is online: hence the delay’

‘The software is being updated to manage the entire process of issuing e-khata for sites or buildings online. The government’s e-Governance Centre (CEG) is conducting the process. The CEG had said that the process will be completed in two days. However, it is not yet complete,” a BDA official, who did not want to be named, informed.

“The e-Khata process will be completed online. For this, the information is being uploaded to the ‘Kaveri Software’ of the Deputy Registrar’s office. Once the process is completed, everything will be available online. There is no need to come to the BDA office. It may take another three to four days for this system to be implemented,” he said.

“All information including BDA plans, Khata, approval letter, tax is being made available online to the property owners at one place,” he said.

Ejipura flyover: Crack in 3 segments

 Problem in two segments installed and one in the construction unit

Ejipura flyover: Crack in 3 segments

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The number of cracked segments in the Ejipur flyover work has reached three. The flyover work is being delayed again due to problems with the segments constructed by the contractors four years ago.

A crack was found in the segment during the Ejipur flyover work. Cement and gravel were leaking from the ‘precast segment’ constructed four years ago. Since this problem was found in one or two segments, they are being taken down. At the same time, a crack was also found in another segment in the ‘casting unit’.

The elevated corridor on the Koramangala Outer Ring Road (Ejipur) is 2.5 km long. The contract for the construction of the long flyover was awarded to Simplex Infrastructure in 2017. They have manufactured 69 precast segments. The problem was found when the work of installing them was carried out by BSCPL Infrastructure.

The segments are being replaced based on the report of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The chief engineer of the BBMP project department had also suggested replacing the segments. Since defects were found in the installed segments, a lot of time was spent on dismantling and replacing them. This has delayed the work.

‘A total of 564 precast segments have to be installed for the Ejipur flyover work. Out of these, 69 segments were constructed by the previous contractor. Since defects were found in some segments, further testing will be carried out before using all the segments,’ said BBMP engineers.

CRACK in Ejipura Flyover Segment… https://keremanju.blogspot.com/2024/11/ejipura-flyover-crack-in-segment.html

Completed by December 2025

‘The flyover work was hampered by several reasons, including the delay in handing over the casting unit. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary M.R. Umashankar, Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath held a meeting and resolved many issues. The work is now going on at full speed,’ said Verma of BSCPL Infrastructure, which has been contracted to do the work.

‘We have given a work schedule. Accordingly, information about the works for each month has been given, and accordingly, the work has been going on for the last three months. The flyover work will be completed by December 2025,’ he said.

IISc suggests to conduct tests and use

Prof. J.M., Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), who conducted the test of the case of a crack in the segment installed on the Ejipur flyover, Chandra Kishan has advised that segments should be installed after conducting all kinds of tests.

‘The strength of the segments should be tested through rebound hammer and UPV tests. If there is honeycombing in the concrete, further testing should be done on them,’ the report said.