Property tax: ARV system likely to be continued

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News: ePaper | Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements | Advts: Retail Plus | Classifieds | Jobs | Obituary | Front Page Property tax: ARV system likely to be continued Staff Reporter ‘Government not adamant on imposing CVS’ — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy Up in arms: Residents of Bangalore staging a protest against the State Government in front of Ravindra Kalakshetra on Tuesday. Bangalore: Property owners in Bangalore are likely to get some relief shortly as the State Government has hinted that it has an “open mind” on continuing the annual rateable value (ARV)-based system for assessment of property tax instead of introducing the capital value system (CVS)-based assessment which has been opposed by the citizens. An indication in this regard was given by Transport Minister R. Ashok and Excise Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu during a public discussion on issues related to property tax assessment and Akrama-Sakrama scheme, organised for the first time by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday. Mr. Naidu clarified that the BJP Government was not adamant on imposing the CVS but instead had an “open mind” on adopting a people-friendly tax assessment system. “We would not have convened the public hearing if we wanted to introduce the CVS,” Mr. Naidu said. Earlier, Mr. Ashok said he had opposed the CVS while participating in interactive meetings with residents’ welfare associations before the Assembly elections, and clarified that there was no change in his stand even today. He said it was not the officials who would decide on which system should be adopted for property tax assessment but the Cabinet Sub-Committee, based on public opinion. The indication came from the Ministers after a large number of residents held a protest against the Government in front of Ravindra Kalakshetra, where the discussion was held, alleging that it (BJP) had failed to keep its promise made during elections that the CVS would be withdrawn. Many residents, during the discussion, said they had voted the BJP in the Assembly elections on the basis of its promise to withdraw the CVS; but for their support, the party would not have won 17 seats in Bangalore city. “The BJP will not win elections either to the BBMP or Parliament if it decides to introduce the CVS,” chorused Sajjan Raj Mehta and many others. The residents also took advantage of the statement made by BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya that the civic body’s revenue would not go up by just introducing the CVS as it was only in need of a legally approved method to collect property tax.