Mayor orders GI survey to identify tax evaders

Hubballi: Amid heated arguments, mayor Manjula Akkur on Monday ordered a Geographic Information Sur vey (GIS) in order to bring ill egal structures under the property tax net, at the general council meeting of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.

During the discussion, senior Congress corporator Ganesh Tagargunti directed the attention of the council towards the many apartments, commercial complexes and educational institutions being built without permission from appropriate authorities. Cutting across party lines, corporators called for action to be initiated against such illegal structures, in order to enhance the civic body's revenue.

Former mayor, Veerana Savadi, of the BJP, pointed out that the former HDMC commissioner had not pursued the survey, which has been waiting for the government's approval for the past one year, resulting in a loss to the corporation. In his suggestion to HDMC commissioner Major Siddalingayya Hiremath, Savadi said that the Rs 3 crore fund allotted for the survey should be divided among Hubballi South, Hubballi North and Dharwad, instead of awaiting the government's nod.

Hiremath pointed out that he had already spoken to the secretary of the urban development department and had been assured that the government would approve the file.

"We can consider Veerana Savadi's suggestions in the event of further delay," he added.

Objecting to commissioner Hiremath's response, former mayor Pandurang Patil said that conducting a survey to bring properties under the tax net was a violation of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act. Under the self-assessment system, estimation of tax was the exclusive right of the public, he pointed out. "If it is the intention of the members is to go against the provisions of the KMC Act, I will not be party to it," he said, and left the meeting.

However, floor leader Ramanna Badiger, Sanjay Kapatkar, Tagargunti and other corporators convinced Patil to return to the meeting.

Responding to the objections raised by Patil, Hiremath said, "GIS survey will not be restricted to the identification of hidden properties. The compiled data will be useful to effectively plan for civic amenities, while also being used for the overall development of Hubballi-Dharwad. However, the staff at HDMC responsible for tax collection will try to bring as many properties under the net till then."

Replying to an earlier query pertaining to the construction of educational institutions without the requisite permits, Hiremath said, "Zonal officers will be asked to furnish inf ormation in this regard and the comprehensive data will be produced at the next meeting. I will ensure that nobody is spared."

Taking part in the discussion, Sudhir Saraf, Dashrath Wali, Altaf Kittur, Manjunath Chintaginjal alleged that many commercial buildings had been built without permission and evading taxes.