NEWS –  The Stamps and Registration Department in Karnataka has recorded a 26% revenue growth, significantly higher than the state’s average growth rate of 11%.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Targeted Revenue: The department is confident of meeting its target of ₹24,500 crore by the end of this financial year, having already collected ₹15,500 crore by October.
• E-Khata Mandate: Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda defended the mandatory e-khata for property transactions, emphasizing it will reduce frauds involving fake “paper certificates” and bring more properties under the tax ambit.
• Property Tax Compliance: Bengaluru has 7 to 8 lakh properties not paying property taxes, and the number is estimated to be 20 to 30 lakh in municipal limits, with 90 lakh under village panchayat jurisdiction. E-khata will help ensure these properties pay taxes.
• Infrastructure Boost: The collection of property taxes through e-khata will contribute to Bengaluru’s infrastructure development.
• Bagair Hukum Lands: Digital certificates for ownership rights on bagair hukum lands will be issued from next week, with a target to bring 5,000 eligible applications before the committee by December 15.
• Crop Loss Compensation: Compensation for crop losses on 1,58,087 hectares of land during the rabi season, estimated at ₹120 crore, will be credited to farmers’ accounts in about a week.
• Kharif Season Compensation: ₹162 crore has already been disbursed to compensate for crop losses on 77,000 hectares and damage to houses due to heavy rains during the kharif season.