The staff of Intel office in Bengaluru were welcomed by foul smell emanating from garbage-filled trucks yesterday. In a peculiar move to collect property tax dues, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) blocked the gates of Intel’s office at Bellandur with four garbage-filled trucks as the firm has failed to pay property tax for years. The BBMP officials even threatened to dump the garbage on the firm’s premises if it failed to clear the dues.
According to reports, the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer owes Rs 34 crore property tax to the civic body. A dispute between both sides in the regard dates back to 2009-10, when BBMP and Intel had disagreed on the firm’s self assessment of the tax amount, according to The Hindu. The Karnataka High Court had recently ordered the Intel to deposit half of the dues as an interim measure. The court also provided four weeks to the company to pay the amount. Intel officials have not commented on the issue, saying the matter was sub-judice and that they would follow HC order. The Bangalore Mirror reported that Intel has not paid property tax since 2008. The daily quoted an official as saying that the American tech giant was paying property tax for the non-AC premises, while the company’s office was centrally air conditioned.
The civic body officials claimed they were not aware of the four-week time granted to Intel by the HC. The trucks were removed later from the spot.