BENGALURU: If the Karnataka government accepts the recommendations from the Administrative Reforms Commission, citizens might face an additional cess in their property taxes to address slum clearance in the city.
The commission’s report, submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, proposed various measures, including the clearance of slums, which could necessitate increased contributions from taxpayers.
The report highlighted the long-standing collection of Slum Improvement Cess by urban local bodies since 1994. However, it emphasised that the current rates, presented as fixed figures, appear insufficient in comparison to the fund requirements for slum development.
Consequently, the commission recommended that the Housing Department propose an amendment to the Karnataka Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act 1973. This amendment aims to introduce a provision akin to Section 30 of the Karnataka Public Libraries Act 1965, enabling the collection of Slum Improvement Cess as a percentage of property tax and other levies by urban local bodies.
Meanwhile, among other recommendations, the commission said that the forest department must respond quickly in giving compensation to victims of man-animal conflict. “To expedite ex-gratia payments and maintain better relations with the public, the commission recommends raising the annual limit for the sanction of ex-gratia to Rs 5 lakh per year for Assistant Conservator of Forests. The Range Forest Officers (RFO) should also be delegated powers to sanction ex-gratia up to Rs 15,000 in each case, subject to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh in a year. RFOs can be given the authority to issue the Official Memorandum sanctioning the ex-gratia. Village Forest Committees (VFC) have funds lying unused for many years, possibly due to the cumbersome procedure for getting approval for utilising the funds,” the report stated.
The commission proposed that the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) take over the approval of the 10-year management plan of VFCs, replacing the Chief CF/CF. Once approved by the DCF, the Annual Plan of Operations should be overseen by the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), and estimates, tenders, work orders, and bill payments delegated to the Range Forest Officer (RFO).
Regarding the backlog of forest violation cases, the report noted nearly a lakh pending cases, leading to delayed justice and allowing repeat offenders to escape. As a deterrent, the commission recommended enhancing the power of compounding offences. It suggested amending Section 79 of the Karnataka Forest Act to empower the Deputy RFO to compound offences, increasing the compounding limit from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakhs. Higher rates for compounding second and third-time offences were also proposed.
The report emphasised the need for a unified portal, developed by the E-Governance department for each department, streamlining professional fee bill submissions by government advocates/panel lawyers. The commission suggested monthly clearance of professional fee invoices and direct disbursement into lawyers’ designated bank accounts, promoting efficiency and transparency.
The commission also recommends reducing minimum acreage for private industrial parks.
