From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, June 11: The one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for property tax owners to clear their property tax arrears is only till the end of July 31 and there will not be any further extension, declared Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Addressing media persons in Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister, said the State government had not exerted any pressure on the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on collection of property tax arrears running into several crores in view of the model code of conduct enforced due to the Lok Sabha polls.

Under the OTS, property tax owners are entitled for a 50% concession in the charges on penalty and 100% waiver of interest dues on the property tax arrears, he said explaining that the previous BJP government had hurriedly implemented the legislation, which will be rectified soon.

Shivakumar explained that as many as 20 lakh property are in the tax net while a large number of people were left out. Another 4 lakh persons have not paid property taxes while barely 50,000 persons have paid the property taxes.

All the property tax owners, who have not paid property taxes by July 31, will fall under the defaulters list, he explained.

The deputy chief minister said the BBMP should have collected Rs 5,200 crore in property taxes but has collected barely Rs 1,300 crore.

Shivakumar said the plans for digitalisation of the all the 20 lakh properties in Bengaluru is in progress and will be completed in the next 3 months.

He said the state government is striving to make the city green and has launched a 'Blue Green' campaign while reviving the Climate Action Cell.

Plans are afoot to plan 2 lakh saplings this year in the city, he said.

The minister said all the parks within the BBMP limits will be kept open throughout the day from 5 am to 10 pm. However, Cubbon Park, which is being maintained by the Horticulture Department, will not be covered under the new rule, he said.

Answering questions on Tamil Nadu’s objection to BJP’s Tumkuru MP being made Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti on the ground that it will lead to injustice to the State, Shivakumar said any Union Minister represents the entire country and cannot be partial to just one state. Therefore, it is wrong to object to his being appointed as MoS for Jal Shakti, he said.

However, he said it is natural for any minister to try to help the State to which he or she belongs. “But we know that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, has not been helpful to the State. The Central assistance of Rs 5,000 crore promised to the Upper Bhadra Project in the Union Budget has not come through,” he said.

Asked about 5 persons from the State being made ministers in the Union Cabinet, he said: “It is the prerogative of the prime minister. I only hope that the ministers help the State by getting more Central grants and projects.”