Sir,

This refers to the news item titled ‘Violations by builders: City apartment dwellers face double property tax’ (SOM dated June 27). Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa is right in exposing the issue of ‘overtaxing’ apartment owners. It appears that the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) considers all those living in apartments as billionaires and taxes them at will.

For a 3 BHK apartment of less than 1,600 sq. ft., one pays a tax of Rs. 9,000 in Mysuru, which is almost double the amount paid in Bengaluru for a similar-sized apartment.

Most apartment dwellers belong to the middle class and cannot afford to buy land and construct buildings. Additionally, the majority of them (like me) are retired, having served in different parts of the country, and have decided to settle down in this city. Taxing them exorbitantly is nothing but inhuman.

Rationalisation of property tax for apartments vis-a-vis bungalows and villas is inevitable as the middle class is the only section of the population prompt in payment of taxes. In contrast, some of the rich and influential know how to grease the palms of officials to get their taxes reduced.

It is time for the MCC to initiate early action to review its tax policy on apartments and lessen the burden on the owners.

– M.R.G. Murthy, Siddarthanagar, 30.6.2024

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