Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Municipal Corporation's (BBMP) recent decree to collect service tax from various seats of power has not gone down well with the state government.
Recently, the BBMP issued a decree, asking the state government to pay taxes for the services rendered to various seats of power, including Vidhana Soudha, Governor's house, and Vikas Soudha, causing heartburn to the ruling Congress government.
In its letter to the PWD Department, the municipal body has asked PWD to fix a rate for these services rendered by the body and to ensure that fee is collected from six government buildings - Vidhana Soudha, Vikas Soudha, High Court, Raj Bhavan, and Police head quarters.
"We have to provide services to the citizen. We have to provide good roads. It is obligatory of the BBMP to provide good roads. If the corporation is sound, we can provide all the services to the common people" said Manjunath Prasad.
Last Saturday, the Municipal body, which is one of the largest in the country, presented a budget of Rs 9,247 crore. However, the budget came under criticism from experts, who called it an inflated one.
According to the government, the BBMP cannot charge service tax on these six buildings as these are government buildings wherein officers do government job, helping the people.
Criticising the move of the BBMP Commissioner, Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport said, "Any government building is our building only. We have to maintain. I don't think the decision of the BBMP is correct."
Echoing Minister's sentiment, Opposition leader Basavaraj Bommai termed the decision of the commissioner absolutely wrong.
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