7,444 buildings in Mangaluru paying double tax for their unlawful construction

Mangaluru, Jul 31: There are 7,444 “unlawfully” constructed buildings under the jurisdiction of Mangaluru City Corporation and they pay double property tax, according to MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazir, Commissioner, Mangaluru City Corporation.

Replying to questions on the civic body stopping issuing temporary door numbers to buildings under Section 112 C (levy of penalty on unlawful building) of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976 at the monthly meeting of the council here on Monday, he said that it was a temporary measure.

“Owners have been found to have constructed houses and buildings violating the floor area ratio (FAR), set back and zonal regulations in many cases. Under Section 112 (C), the people were given temporary door numbers by collecting double property tax. Buildings, for which the owners have not obtained completion certificate from the Corporation, are given temporary door numbers. There are 7,444 properties that pay double tax in the MCC jurisdiction,” the commissioner said.

They get their permanent door numbers only after correcting all the deviations in construction.

But taking undue advantage of the section many have begun constructing buildings “unlawfully”. Many thought that they could get away by getting temporary door numbers. It was actually misusing a provision in the Act. Hence, the civic body has stopped issuing temporary door numbers to prevent mushrooming of such buildings in the, he said.