GHMC has announced the customary Early Bird offer, whereby the property tax assessees can avail themselves of a five per cent rebate on the tax, if paid within the first month, that is before April 30.
While an announcement is made that the offer will start from April 6, property owners have been getting messages with online payment weblink starting since April 1. People who have tried to pay using the weblink are facing several hurdles.
According to reports shared by users, the online portal is open to check the amount due, only for the owners whose mobile numbers are registered with the site.
“The site asks for the mobile number to generate one-time password. If the mobile number does not match the registered one, or if there is no registered mobile number, the payment is stalled, and some junk text is displayed in the mobile number’s place,” shared a property owner and citizen activist Harish Kumar Daga.
Besides, even if the registered mobile number is entered, not all properties on the number are displayed, he says.
More irksome is the situation of the assessees who have managed to complete the process and make the payment.
“While the amount is getting deducted, the online receipts are showing nil payment. When we approached the officials concerned with the issue, they are asking us to visit citizens’ service centres instead of paying online,” Mr.Harish Kumar said.
Only a few users got the message on their mobiles that the online payment portal is under maintenance, and will be open for payment from April 6. No clarification is available about the amounts already remitted without receipts confirming the same.
Officials from GHMC refuted the reports and said over 34,000 property owners have successfully paid the tax up to ₹14 crore till Monday.
“There might be individual issues, which may be resolved upon complaint,” an official said.
