Beating their drums

BANGALORE: In order to recover tax from the public who have still not paid, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials took to an unconventional method - beating drums in front of the defaulters houses on Friday.The release from the BBMP said that at Gurappanapalya, on Bannerghatta Road, Subramanya Construction Development Private Limited who had not paid their dues since 2008 had to face the drum beaters on Friday.Earlier the Palike Revenue Officer and Assistant revenue officer from Jayanagar office had sent notices to the company, but in vain.The Joint Commissioner (South) later instructed his officials to collect tax through this ‘novel’ method.After the drummer were done with beating their instruments, the company finally coughed up at least a portion of the amount due.Of the total estimated amount of Rs. 11.14 crore, the Palike received Rs. 1 crore.Meanwhile the company officials promised that they would pay the remaining amount in next four months through installments.On Thursday, the Palike officials along with the drummers were seen beating the instrument in front of another property that belonged to Ramachittaranjan Das on 100 feet Road in Indiranagar, HAL 2nd Stage.Das had not paid his tax since 2007.So far through the Palike has managed to collected Rs. 72 lakh from Das.According to the BBMP officials, property tax defaulters owe more than Rs. 200 crore to the Palike and they are planning to continue this drive in another 10 to 15 places in the coming week.On Friday, the BBMP commissioner ordered his officials to issue notice to the defaulters and collect the tax with penalty.He has also instructed them to slap the defaulters with an arrest warrant if necessary.