Palike gets ISKCON to pay up

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has made its intentions clear. After taking corporations, government agencies, hotels and educational institutions to task for irregular payment of property tax and other alleged violations, the Palike has now served a notice to the ISKCON temple in the city.The temple which is located on West of Chord Road has become the latest to come under the Palike scanner.According to the Palike, the temple has a wedding choultry, three hotels and guest houses, which come under the commercial tax bracket. The Palike, has actively pursued renewal of trade licences and property tax to increase the revenue sources.On the same account, revenue inspectors have estimated that the temple would be liable to pay Rs 80 lakh as property tax. But the temple has agreed to pay liable amount, informed deputy mayor S Harish.But he was also of the opinion that the temple would be liable to pay a much higher amount, if the property was reassessed. With the same regard, he held discussions with the BBMP commissioner Siddaiah.The latter immediately asked the joint commissioner (West) to conduct the re-assessment personally to ensure that the temple pays what it is liable to pay.The result of the aggressive posture of the Palike in matters relating to the collection of property tax saw fruitful results as the same exceeded Rs 1,000 crore for the first time in the BBMP’s history, even though it fell short of the expected target of Rs 1,500 crore.The Palike have expected to garner the same amount according to their 2011-12 budget as well as the initiation of the Global Information System (GIS) has helped them tax 11,02,289 properties across the city.Added to this, they are also expecting to generate Rs 85 crore from the renewal and distribution of trade licences.