Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Urban Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar has defended the civic body’s move to auction properties of tax defaulters, stating that the action primarily targets large commercial property owners and not small homeowners.
Speaking to the media at the GBA office, Shivakumar said that nearly 80% of commercial properties have not paid property tax for the past seven to eight years. “These are not small houses. Most of them are commercial establishments earning monthly rental income. Some even belong to former MLAs. I will not name them,” he said.
He clarified that the government had already provided relief through a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to allow defaulters to clear dues. “We introduced OTS out of humanitarian concern. I do not interfere in tax collection matters. If people fail to utilize the opportunity, the civic body must act,” he stated.
According to him, 2.65 lakh property owners benefited from the OTS scheme, resulting in a revenue collection of ₹1,200 crore for the municipal body. “It is a historic decision,” he added.
Shivakumar also alleged misuse by certain developers who paid only 35% while seeking building plan approvals and later approached courts without clearing the remaining 75%. “I have instructed officials not to approve plans for such defaulters,” he said.
Responding to a question about a prominent mall owner allegedly owing ₹35 crore and whether similar action was taken, Shivakumar said that authorities had locked the premises and recovered ₹8 crore. “The court has granted some time. ₹20 crore is still pending,” he noted.
The Deputy CM reiterated that enforcement measures are directed at major defaulters and developers, not ordinary 30×40 site owners, emphasizing that compliance is essential for sustaining civic infrastructure and services.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ‘7-8 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ತೆರಿಗೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ’: 80% ವಾಣಿಜ್ಯ ಆಸ್ತಿಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕಠಿಣ ಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಡಿಕೆಎಸ್ ಸೂಚನೆ
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