Bengaluru: The state government, which is facing severe financial crisis due to the various popular schemes like loan waiver, now want the civic agencies not to depend upon the Urban development department for the funding. As a result, the civic agencies have started taking stringent measures to collect pending taxes. In an action which is expected to send a strong signal to the property tax defaulters, in Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone of the city, the BBMP issued notices to 53,000 property owners for tax default. These families are owing tax to the BBMP from last three years. According to K Shivegowda, assistant commissioner, BBMP, RR zone, a total of Rs.47.51 crores is pending from these property owners. “We are publishing the names of the tax defaulters in our ward offices. Seize warrants have been issued to the defaulters,” he explained.

According to the BBMP sources, to implement the various developmental works, now the state government want the BBMP to mobilise funds internally. “It wants 100% property tax collection,” said a senior officer from the BBMP.