SCB tightens noose on Begumpet Airport, JBS

While the board will approach the court against the payment of property tax arrears by the airport, the Jubilee Bus Stand authorities would be served a final notice to pay their property tax dues of Rs 7.43 lakh

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) authorities will file a counter against the Begumpet Airport authorities soon for the payment of property tax. The airport had approached the Hyderabad High Court seeking a relaxation against the payment of property tax arrears of Rs 12.7 crore. The airport in its petition cited its poor state due to the commissioning of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad.

On August 11, the airport authorities were served a red notice by the SCB to pay property tax arrears of 13.71 crore (including current year dues).

Syed Akbar Ali, property tax superintendent, SCB, said, “After we served a red notice, the airport authorities paid Rs 1.32 crore which is the property tax for the year 2012-13. For the rest of the arrears, the airport officials sought a stay at the court. However, the stay was denied. We will file a counter petition in the court soon and issue red notices for recovery of our legitimate dues.”

Giving details about the other major defaulters, the SCB official said, “The Jubilee Bus Station in Picket has to pay property tax arrears of Rs 7.43 lakh. Though we had issued red notices to clear the arrears, the bus station officials sought clarifications on tax structures and its revisions which were duly clarified by the SCB. But the arrears remain unpaid till date. Now we will be serving a final notice to recover the dues and if the response is not forthcoming, we will take further action as per the provisions of the Cantonment Act, 2006.”