The Hindu : BCC decides not to implement SAS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

BCC decides not to implement SAS

By Our Staff Correspondent

Belgaum Jan. 9 . The Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) on Thursday refused to implement the property tax Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS).

A resolution was adopted at the meeting of the BCC Council.

Though the BCC initially agreed to implement the scheme, it reversed the decision on September 27, 2002.

Communicating its change in the decision to the Government, the BCC explained its difficulties in implementing the scheme, such as valuation of vacant sites and inability to assess tax on their own in respect of illiterate property owners. There was also opposition from the city residents.

Taking strong objection to the BCC's decision, the Government issued a show-cause notice to the former, and asked why its resolution against implementing the SAS should not be scrapped. The resolution adopted by the BCC was in violation of the KMC Act 1976, it said.

The former Mayor and Opposition member, Shivaji Sunthkar, said the BCC received the notice on November 11. The corporation failed to reply to it and did not take a decision.

The Urban Development Minister, D.K. Shivkumar, who visited the city two months ago, warned of action against if the SAS was not implemented in the city.

Protest staged

Members of the Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Belgaum City Corporation here on Thursday opposing the implementation of the "unscientific" self-assessment scheme (SAS) for collecting property tax. The samiti said the scheme was not in accordance with the requirements of the KMC Act, 1976. According to it, the valuation of property under the Act was not proper and legal as held by Karnataka High Court. Implementation of the scheme in the present form would be unfair and would cause hardship to taxpayers, it said.

The samiti opposed the proposed increase in water tax as it did not fulfil the mandate of Chapter 10 of the KMC Act, and therefore could not be implemented. Though the citizens of Belgaum got water supply only for 130 days during 2001-02, the corporation collected tax for the entire year. Water supply was inadequate and irregular, and the proposed increase was unjustifiable. The corporation should refrain from putting the public to further hardship, the samiti said.

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