Drum beating fetches BBMP Rs 4.5 Crore taxes

BANGALORE: Fund strapped Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is happy to spend Rs 600 per day on drum beaters which in turn is fetching it crores of revenue from tax defaulters.The BBMP has so far collected more than Rs 4.5 crore from tax defaulters who had failed to pay the property tax for the past many years. The initiative of embarrassing tax defaulters by beating drums in front of their property has received a positive response and the civic agency has become successful in getting its long pending dues.According to Deputy Mayor S Harish, the BBMP has collected Rs 4.5 crore from at least 20 commercial owners. He said that they are paying around Rs 600 per troupe that consists of four members who will beat drums for couple of hours in front of private properties.Harish also stated that they have outsourced drum beaters and each zone has one troupe. He said that this drive be carried out for another month.“We will collect at least Rs 20 crore from the tax defaulters,” he added.On Monday, according to the Assistant Revenue Officer (Peenya Industrial area) Basavalingappa, BBMP identified 12 property owners and a due of Rs 2.7 crore. However, they were successful in getting Rs 48,01,372 from three property owners.“The rain affected the drive. The remaining property owners have assured to pay the tax dues as soon as possible,” he added.However, Ramakanth, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), said that Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is yet to get Rs 200 dues. “We had sent notice. But in vein. Now we are getting part of the revenue and I am sure by the end of the drive, we will meet the target,” he said.At present, after drum beating, many of the defaulters are paying the tax. “Some of them have taken time and some promised to pay it in instalments as amount is huge for them to repay,” he explained.Ramu, one of the drum beaters, is happy with the initiative. According to him, earlier he used to earn Rs 500 per one day. Now, the BBMP is paying Rs 1,000. “I am into this drum beating for the past five years. We were much in demand during festival season, especially during Ganesha festival. Now, this year, we are able to earn little even after this festival,” he added.