BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Monday called for measures to bring approximately 1.35 crore properties in the state into the tax net.
During a review meeting on the revenue performance of the stamps and registration department, the CM emphasised the importance of sanitizing the property registration records based on fake documents. This move is part of a broader strategy to address longstanding issues ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 state budget.
“There are between 7 lakh and 15 lakh properties in Bengaluru which lack khata,” the CM said, referring to the official property document needed for tax payments. “In urban local bodies outside Bengaluru, around 30 lakh properties are without khata, and more than 90 lakh properties in gram panchayat areas do not possess proper documentation, including khata. This is causing significant revenue losses to the government.”
Siddaramaiah said while 44 lakh properties in gram panchayat areas have khata, contributing Rs 800 crore in property taxes, about 96 lakh properties remain off the radar. “We must bring these properties into the tax net,” he added.
The CM said the stamps and registration department has already collected Rs 16,993 crore in property registration fees this financial year, marking a 17% increase over the previous year, and is aiming to meet the annual target of Rs 26,000 crore.
The CM called for expedited rollout of the e-khata system in the BBMP jurisdiction to bring greater transparency and efficiency to property registration. This directive comes amid ongoing efforts to ensure comprehensive property documentation and curb fraudulent registrations across the state.
During the review meeting, the CM emphasised the importance of leveraging technology to streamline the registration process, especially in Bengaluru, where irregularities have been rampant. “We must expedite the implementation of e-khata in the BBMP limits,” Siddaramaiah said, urging officials to accelerate the digitalization of property records in the city.
Currently, 23 lakh properties within the BBMP jurisdiction have been digitized, with 15 lakh accounts successfully downloaded. However, the CM noted that much work remains to be done, stressing the need to complete the digitisation process swiftly. “Only properties with verified khata records should be allowed for registration,” he said.
Source Homevior.in
