Bangalore: The BBMP council on Tuesday approved the implementation of betterment fee, enabling citizens to obtain ‘A’ (genuine) khata by paying the prescribed fee.
Based on the money spent and to be spent for infrastructure development in the newly added and core areas of Bengaluru, the betterment fee committee arrived at two slabs of the fee. The committee also took into account the money spent on water supply to the newly added 110 villages.
Land that has been converted for non-agriculture purpose and denotified by the BDA, KIADB, KHB and other government organisations is also eligible for the ‘A’ khata.
After a detailed deliberation with the city in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy, the BBMP taxation and finance committee and town planning of wing the BBMP have fixed the fee. The citizens have the option of paying the betterment fee in four instalments. Those opting for more than four installments will have to shell out 1.5 per cent interest per month.
According to BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) I. R. Ramakanth, the BBMP hopes to collect revenues of around Rs 200 crore from the fee. The genuine khata will make it easier for citizens to build their dream homes or sell their properties, he said.
Mostly, owners of properties on the outskirts of the city will benefit more with the new scheme, he said.
Chaos prevails at council meeting
Bangalore: Chaos prevailed in the council meet on Tuesday when the cororators from the ruling (BJP) and Opposition parties (Congress) exÂchanged heated arguments on the civic body’s poor financial condition.
The Congress corporators protested against the financial indiscipline by sporting black tape around their arms and began demanding reasons why the administrative report has not been tabled.
Kacharakanahalli corporator PadmaÂnabha Reddy defended the BJP administration stating that Chief Minister SiddaÂramaiah was responsible for the BBMP’s financial condition. This irked the Congress corporators forcing them to shout anti BJP slogans.
When things went out of control, the Mayor, Katte Satyanarayana adÂjourned the council.
Reddy said that civic body lost its revenue when flow of stamp duty surcharge was stopped in 1996-97 by the then finance minister SiddaÂramaiah. Even the SFC grants was reduced. He also suggested that the BBMP can seek for special grants of Rs 1,000 crore from government.
Earlier, Jayamahal councillor M. K. Gunashekar said that section 61(3) of KMC Act has been violated by not tabling audit and administrative reports before the council.
In reply, the BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said that the administrative reports for 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 were with the council section and ready to be tabled before the council. The reports for 2011-12 and 2012-13 were being complied and would be ready in a month’s time.
