BENGALURU: There’s no way Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will let six lakh property tax defaulters who have been issued demand notices, forget what they owe to the civic body. BBMP is all set to introduce an Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS), which will keep reminding the defautlers of their obligation to clear their dues.
Munish Moudgil, special commissioner (revenue), confirmed to TOI that the Palike will introduce IVRS shortly to remind tax defaulters like banks that send out reminders to their customers. Palike officials revealed that the civic body floated a tender on Monday to hire a private agency to provide IVRS service for two years.
According to BBMP sources, there are 20 lakh properties registered in A khata or B khata registry and bound to pay property tax, but over 6 lakh properties have failed to clear their dues.
The delay in payment of taxes entails severe penalties and interest payments, besides making the defaulters liable to face even criminal prosecution and attachment of their properties.
To help citizens from forgetting or skipping payment of property tax dues, BBMP has decided to remind them through IVRS service, thereby lowering the burden of revenue officials.
Currently, revenue officials are responsible for making reminder calls and sending messages.
According to officials, IVRS service will facilitate hassle-free follow-up with lakhs of citizens who are due to pay their taxes.
Palike officials said they will use IVRS service not only to make calls and remind tax defaulters, but also to collect feedback from citizens regarding their complaints through Sahaya 2.0 and other portals. The Palike aims to make about 60,000 to 70,000 phone calls per day to the tax defaulters. The Palike will use an AI-based system for citizen queries.
