Armed with city’s garbage, the BBMP on Monday was seen threatening representatives of the Intel Technology India office in Bellandur area of Bengaluru of unsavoury consequences if the company failed to pay its pending property tax dues.
Garbage trucks were seen parked outside the office on Monday, with the implicit threat of garbage being dumped in the office premises if the amount is not paid soon.
The multi-national company owes the Palike a sum of Rs 31 crore of property tax, pending since 2009-10. Formally, the BBMP has issued a notice to the company under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act sections 14, 26, 27.
Joint commissioner Mahadevapura, Muniveerappa claims that the company has not paid its taxes despite being warned in various ways.
“The company comes under Rs 8 per sq ft tax bracket. They went to the civil court with a plea application, but it was dismissed in April. They went to the High Court which gave a stay order and asked them to pay 50%, that is, Rs 15.5 crores,” said Muniveerappa
He added that if the company failed to pay up by August 18, the BBMP would conduct a raid on the company just as it had done on the Manyata Tech Park.
In June, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials cleared out furniture from Manyata Tech Park office in Nagavara area for non-payment of differential tax.