The Hindu : `Revenue potential not fully tapped in wards'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

`Revenue potential not fully tapped in wards'

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Dec. 10. In at least 10 wards, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is collecting only one-third of the revenue potential. The citizens are willing to help the civic body collect more revenue if they are given a proactive role in deciding on the way money is spent in their wards.

This was the message brought home to the Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, and the BMP Commissioner, M.R. Srinivas Murthy, by residents of 10 wards working with Janaagraha on the preparation of the Ward Vision Document, a three-year plan, last weekend. Mr. Ramesh, who interacted with the citizens, appreciated their efforts.

The revenue estimates were calculated based on the Geographical Information System maps for each ward, procured from the Bangalore Development Authority, with property-level images. With the help of professional survey techniques and 700 student volunteers, a detailed property assessment was carried out and a databank created and used for the estimates.

Mr. Murthy said the work on re-laying 100 km. of roads would begin in January. This would be taken up immediately after the completion of the Rs. 150-crore project of laying underground drains and water supply lines for 55 wards, he said.

Based on the data collected through the self-assessment scheme for property tax, the civic body decided on large-scale restructuring of the property tax system. The cooperation of citizens was necessary for enhanced revenue, which would be used for additional civic facilities, he added.

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