Authorities of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have launched a comprehensive survey to assess the accurate holding numbers, officials said.
“We have started the door-to-door survey with a view to find out the accurate number of houses in the capital. If the accurate number of holdings is counted, it will help raise the revenue collection significantly from the holding tax,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSCC Md Ansar Ali Khan told The New Nation on Tuesday. Justifying the initiative, he said, the total number of holdings under the DSCC is 1,32560 and the City Corporation is receiving Tk150 crore tax from these holdings annually. “But, this number is not accurate because thousands of new houses are being built nowadays. This calls for counting the holdings afresh,” he added.
Md Ansar Ali Khan further said, a nexus between the officials of DSCC and the holding owners is reported from various city areas. They had the information that the field level officials of DSCC are suppressing the actual holding number to help house owners to evade taxes.
“Once the survey is completed successfully, the holding numbers would be three times higher from the present level helping to net additional holding tax,” he said, adding, “The increase in revenue earnings from holding tax will make the DNCC financially solvent and the additional income would be utilized through boosting the development activities of the Corporation.”
He said, two private firms were appointed to do the survey and they would submit the report within six months.
The DSCC has also taken the initiative to install digital number plates for marking the holdings number as per order of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives Ministry.
