Greater Chennai Corporation to assess 20,000 buildings on poromboke land for property tax

Officials say the assessment of buildings on Poromboke land in added areas, which were merged with the city in 2011, is challenging since there are no specific guidelines. | Photo Credit: M.VEDHAN
Owing to the demand from councillors, the Greater Chennai Corporation plans to assess 20,000 buildings, developed on poromboke land, for property tax. It has sought a clarification from the government whether the assessment of such buildings can be carried out in various zones of the city.
At the Corporation Council meeting held on March 2, councillors demanded a property tax assessment of buildings on Poromboke land. Their argument was that many families that had been living for generations on certain categories of land, like grama nathamwere unable to get pattas.
ME Sekar, councillor of ward 89 in the Ambattur zone, said over 500 buildings in areas, like Kamarajar Nagar at Padi, had been built on poromboke land, and the residents were demanding pattas. “The residents have demanded that the Corporation assess the buildings for property tax,” he said.
The situation is more challenging in the added areas, which were merged with the city in 2011, Corporation officials say. “There are no specific guidelines for solving such issues,

