Corporation to use reform incentive for property tax mapping and drainage work

The reform incentive of ₹10 crore sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will be utilised for property tax mapping through drone based survey as well as drainage and water conservation measures.

The Ministry chose the civic body for the reform incentive last year for its effective implementation of projects under the two phases of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

The State Level High Powered Steering Committee (SHPSC) of AMRUT 2.0 had instructed the Kerala Water Authority and the Corporation to submit proposals for various possible projects to utilise the funds.

Flood prevention

Later, in a meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary, Local Self Government department (LSGD), it was decided to utilise half of the funds for storm water drainage for flood prevention and for water supply related works of the KWA. However, the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor informed that the Corporation is not in a position to share the reform incentive with the KWA.

Based on this, the SHPSC later decided to set aside 75% of the incentive amount for drainage planning and water conservation measures including urban flood prevention and 25% for the property tax mapping through drone-based survey as well as for introduction of smart elements in water supply. The mapping of properties, and a periodic updating of the database would give the Corporation an actual picture of the amount of tax money owed to them, as well as to track down defaulters. Maps of public and private properties in the city, showing their use and features are necessary for fixing property taxes.

Unauthorised constructions

The residential as well as commercial buildings, mapped using drones, will be linked to the respective building numbers in the digital records for an accurate idea of pending taxes as well as unauthorised constructions.

Earlier, the Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited had implemented a project in select wards in the capital to map physical assets, including all buildings, as part of efforts to plug holes in property tax collection as well as to aid in governance.