While property owners in Bengaluru can now apply for their e-Khatas from the comfort of their living rooms, those in Belagavi continue to wrestle with red tape, delays, and exorbitant unofficial fees. The contrast couldn’t be starker—what costs Rs 160 in the capital can burn a Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 hole in the pocket here.
Under Bengaluru’s progressive Janasevaka initiative, a government-appointed official visits citizens’ homes to assist with the e-Khata application—particularly useful for the digitally challenged and senior citizens. The entire process is transparent, time-bound, and affordable. The BBMP, in collaboration with the Directorate of Electronic Delivery of Citizen Services (DEDCS), has deployed 91 Janasevakas for this task. Appointments can be booked online or via phone, and e-Khatas are often issued within a day.
Now let’s pedal back to Belagavi.
Here, the official fee is just Rs 25, but unless you know the system inside out—or someone inside the system—your application might just gather dust for months. Multiple citizens have complained that their e-Khata applications have been lying unattended in offices for weeks, if not months. For those in a hurry, the only alternative seems to be paying hefty sums to middlemen or agents, sometimes as high as Rs 20,000.
This stark disparity raises a fundamental question: If Bengaluru can simplify and digitize this process, why can’t Belagavi?
With the government pushing for digital transformation and citizen-centric services across Karnataka, it’s high time similar efforts are replicated in tier-2 cities like Belagavi. Not only would this curb the ‘Agent Raj’, but it would also restore faith in governance and make services genuinely “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
After all, if Janasevaka can do it in Bengaluru, why not in Belagavi?
Thanks Editor ! While online submissions are difficult (and maybe impossible as tax paid details are not uploaded/ updated and captured even if paid online), there is no clarity on where to submit the applications or how to track them after they have been submitted at the counters. Citizens (mostly Seniors) depend on hearsay and run around & finally give in to agents. My own experience:
_ Those who find their e-aasti no. among the assets under Citizens Services are unable to open the document and are directed to BBMP payment site (?!) to pay Rs 125/- …. the said payment site does not recognize the asset.!
_ Mutation Application (for change of ownership in Corporation Records (after mutation has been completed in the Sub Registrars office & City Survey) cannot be submitted/completed because the property tax information has not been uploaded/updated on to e-aasti. Applicants who have sincerely paid their are prompted to pay current year’s taxes & are left clueless ss to what to do next!
Are our officials listening? They need to act quickly as the monsoon will soon be here and there are reports of resurgence of Covid. Sometime ago there was a report that even Corporators had complained that agents “rule the roost” so to speak.. ..But why?
Also, as a winter capital in Belgaum what is the issue for the legislature to mandate that Belagavi or any other smaller city to get step motherly treatment. Thanks for highlighting this issue.
Should be initiated in Belgaum sir…i want computer utara from hindalga panchayat but if you go directly they say we are not issuing but if you go from behind door it is available for 10000…. What kind of agent raj is this….. height of corruption