Bhubaneswar: Amid protests to revoke the hike in holding tax, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation on Sunday informed that buildings of the tax defaulters will be sealed.
In a letter to the all zonal deputy commissioners (ZDCs), the BMC directed to initiate certificate cases, under the OPDR Act 162, against all the defaulters.
"Steps may also be taken to seal the buildings of the defaulters, against whom certificate cases have been initiated, at the earliest to prevent loss of revenue," the letter read.
The BMC further directed that ward supervisors may be instructed to file requisition before the ZDCs accordingly.
"The ward supervisors are to monitor filing certificate cases. Strict action may be taken against defaulting ward officers and ward supervisors," it added.
The State government’s General Administration (GA) department, the civic body, had revised the benchmark value of land after 21 years in October last year. Later, several petitions were filed in the Orissa High Court challenging the hike.
On September 4, the HC in its judgment directed the BMC to complete the revision of all the non-assessed properties within 15 days before collecting 50 percent of the revised assessment amount.
It is alleged that the BMC is trying to dupe the people of Bhubaneswar as the Orissa High Court is yet to give its final verdict. Instead of holding talks with the stake holders, the BMC is forcibly levying the tax on the citizens.
However, the BMC has clarified that it is collecting 50 per cent Holding tax as per the order of the Orissa High Court.