BBMP makes details of property tax, works available online

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has published a list of works taken up and property tax collected in every ward on its website. The move has been welcomed by activists for improving transparency and empowering ward committees in the city. 

"This is transparency that we dreamed of and we believed will help empower ward committees. At the round table the Commissioner said it will be done and he did it today", Srinivas Alavilli, a member of Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), which has been campaigning for regular ward committee meetings said. 

The group had earlier in November 2018 asked for a list of works taken up by the BBMP along with property tax collected in each of the 198 wards in Bengaluru since ward committee meetings in the city were being held without this information made public. The request was made in a round-table meeting with the BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad.  

Website Link: BBMP Ward Committee Details

“It’s the first time in the BBMP’s history, ward-wise details of projects and tax collection data are made available to the public,” said Manjunath speaking to Deccan Herald.

The data published includes the property tax collected for 198 wards of Bengaluru for the years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 and all the works taken up by the civic body from April 1 2016 to January 31 2019. The BBMP has also notified details of works taken up on major roads and other government projects. 

 “The ward-wise works data could be improved by adding details of works completed, pending and deadlines set. BBMP can also expose the GIS mapping of properties and colour code those who have paid the tax and those who have not. This will further empower ward committees to ensure better tax collection in their respective wards,” V Ravichandar, former member, BBMP Restructuring Committee said to The Hindu.