BENGALURU: Watch out if you have not yet cleared your property tax dues with Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). You could lose your cherished unit through a public auction.
In a first-of-its-kind crackdown on defaulters, GBA on Saturday auctioned off seven properties in the East and North City Corporation limits to recover long-pending tax arrears.
Despite repeated notices and recovery drives by the erstwhile BBMP and the five newly formed corporations under GBA, thousands of owners continue to default on tax payments. With tax dues touching ₹437 crore across nearly 7,000 units in the city, civic authorities have turned to property auction as a last resort.
Of the 25 properties listed in East, 107 in North and 40 in Central, five units in East and two in North were auctioned off, while those in Central failed to attract bidders.
Taking a strong stand on property tax arrears, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said some former legislators own properties, collect rent, but fail to pay taxes. “If they are earning rent and not paying tax, what should the corporation do? Such properties will also be auctioned,” he cautioned.
TOI was present at the auction in East City Corporation. In K R Puram division, 25 defaulter properties — including one valued at ₹17.9 crore, the highest on the list — were put under the hammer in the presence of joint commissioner Sudha. As bidding commenced, 19 property owners rushed to clear their dues.
Eventually, five properties were sold. One was withdrawn after it was found to be encroaching on a stormwater drain.
