Property tax bills irk citizens, BMC flooded with complaints

After the issuance of the new property tax bills, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials are flooded with complaints from upset citizens.

After the issuance of the new property tax bills, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials are flooded with complaints from upset citizens. So far, the BMC has received around 3,360 complaints from citizens across the city.

The BMC had sent the new capital value-based property tax bills for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 to citizens in January, 2013. It gave them 21 days notice to raise objections about the bill amount while the deadline to pay the bills is March 31. This capital value-based property tax system replaced the rental system last year.

The BMC has issued 1,94,374 property bills along with notices to citizens. It is yet to send the bills for 33,400 properties.

“We are receiving around 250 to 300 complaints every day at our ward offices. These complaints are being addressed at the help desks set up at various wards,” said Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner.

Jalota also clarified that the 21-day notice is allotted to raise objections about mistakes in the classification of the building. However, the BMC has refused to facilitate payments in instalments as the difference is very low.

“The new property tax system was passed to neutralise property tax across the city. We are ready to explain the system to residents if they call us to their buildings,” said Jalota. 

Meanwhile, the BMC is expecting lesser revenue this year than last year.

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Centre takes up NRIs’ property complaints

With more and more overseas Indians complaining about being cheated by property developers, including tainted real estate major Maytas, and illegal occupation and encroachment of their properties in India, the Centre has decided to exert more pressure on state governments to act on such incidents.

The Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry — which had been taking up such cases with state governments — has now decided to hold a special session on property-related issues faced by NRIs and PIOs during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet next month. It has asked nodal officers appointed by states for dealing with grievances of overseas Indians to attend the seminar.

The idea is to draw the attention of the state governments and sensitise them about the gravity of the situation so that some kind of mechanism can be evolved to deal with such complaints. "It is an opportunity for the overseas Indians to raise their concerns. We have even invited the DGPs of some of the states," Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi said.

Ravi said a majority of the complaints are from overseas Indians who have properties in Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Although the Overseas Ministry had as early as in February this year asked state governments to appoint nodal officers to deal with grievances of NRIs and PIOs, only 12 states have complied with the direction so far.

The session would work out the possibility of putting in place institutional arrangements to safeguard the properties of overseas Indians and discuss the modalities for credible investment avenues in the real estate sector. The Overseas Minister is also planning to take up the issue with the chief ministers who are attending the three-day event.

As many as 12 chief ministers would attend the 8th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in which over 1,000 delegates from 55 countries would participate. Sources said the Government might announce some institutional mechanism to promote investment by the overseas community in India.  

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/centre-takes-up-nris--property-complaints/561315/

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BMC to hold hearings on property tax complaints

MUMBAI: The civic body has appointed inspectors in wards to conduct hearings on complaints alleging erroneous computation of the capital-value-based property tax. The hearings redressal on property tax-related complaints will begin in 10 days.

The BMC has received a total of 42,000 complaints.

"Each ward has been divided into 14-30 sections. A single section will comprise 300-400 properties. Each ward will have an inspector, who will scrutinize the complaint and forward it to the assistant assessor and the collector (the designated investigating officer) to decide if the case has merit. The complaints will be heard and a final order passed," said additional municipal commissioner Rajiv Jalota. "Of the 42,000 complaints, 27,000 will be heard. Around 13,000 complaints pertain to the policy and question the basis of the capital-value based system and . These complaints cannot be considered." We are trying to minimize hearings as much as possible."

MUMBAI: The civic body has appointed inspectors in wards to conduct hearings on complaints alleging erroneous computation of the capital-value-based property tax. The hearings redressal on property tax-related complaints will begin in 10 days.

The BMC has received a total of 42,000 complaints.

"Each ward has been divided into 14-30 sections. A single section will comprise 300-400 properties. Each ward will have an inspector, who will scrutinize the complaint and forward it to the assistant assessor and the collector (the designated investigating officer) to decide if the case has merit. The complaints will be heard and a final order passed," said additional municipal commissioner Rajiv Jalota. "Of the 42,000 complaints, 27,000 will be heard. Around 13,000 complaints pertain to the policy and question the basis of the capital-value based system and . These complaints cannot be considered." We are trying to minimize hearings as much as possible."

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-26/mumbai/38842377_1_assistant-assessor-complaints-investigating-officer

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