The Hindu

Mangalore, Dec 25: The Government will approve the property tax rates revised by the Mangalore City Corporation council under the self assessment scheme (SAS) in a week’s time, with some modifications, according to J. Krishna Palemar, Minister in charge of Dakshina Kannada.

In an informal chat with presspersons here on Thursday, the Minister said that the civic body was lagging behind in property tax collection as it was waiting for the Government’s decision on the revised tax structure.

The Minister said that the hitch related to the issuance of licence to buildings on small plots under the revised Master Plan had been cleared. Earlier, councillors had complained that the revised Master Plan for Mangalore local planning area was not favourable to middle-class people who wanted to build houses on small plots.

Mr. Palemar said that the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for surrendering of properties would be made attractive.

Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa had agreed to release Rs. 100 crore to the city corporation, in addition to Rs. 100 crore sanctioned in the budget of 2008-09.

The corporation was preparing an action plan for utilising the additional grants. The fund would be used for laying new concrete roads and constructing drains, he said.