Property Tax Payment Fiasco Continues In Belagavi: Honest Taxpayers Harassed

Belagavi City Corporation's inefficiency continues to plague taxpayers, especially for Online payments as they grapple with a dysfunctional payment system and unresponsive website. With just three days remaining to avail the 5% rebate for April, frustration mounts among residents as the corporation fails to address simple website issues. Unlike other cities where property tax payment is smooth, Belagavi residents face hurdles at every step. The recent shift of the payment gateway from HDFC to Payu has only exacerbated the problem, with numerous reports of the new system not functioning properly. The website, https://belagavicitycorp.org/WebSiteBGM/Home.aspx, emerged from dormancy on April 15, only to encounter glitches in calculating various cess and other charges over the next two days. Many taxpayers who paid during this period are left uncertain about the fate of their arrears. Despite efforts to rectify the issues by April 18, including incorporating ready reckoner prices, the website continues to display blank challans for many. Of particular concern is the non-activation of challan generation for apartments, leaving residents in limbo with just three days left to avail of the rebate. The government has remained silent on the possibility of extending the rebate deadline. Under normal circumstances, a penalty of 2% is levied from July onwards. There is a huge rush to get offline challans but there to, its a disappointment to get a Challan. The incompetence displayed by the Belagavi City Corporation not only inconveniences taxpayers but also reflects poorly on governance. As residents struggle to fulfill their civic duties, urgent action is warranted to rectify the situation and restore faith in the system.