Misplaced files leave MCH in a predicament

Published Date: 2/24/2007 - (NIE)
V L Srinivasan
Hyderabad, Feb 23: OFFICIALS of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) are in a fix over the ‘misplacing’ of several files pertaining to its properties which were leased out to private parties for nominal amounts more than three decades ago. The MCH had leased out 272 properties for periods ranging from 3 to 30 years under four categories since 1965. It leased out 129 properties for commercial use, 100 for residential use, 27 for charitable institutions and 16 for educational and health institutions. The area of these properties ranges 50 sq yards to 300 sq yards and the MCH is getting a few hundreds of rupees as lease amount. However, the practice was discontinued after 1983. According to official sources, most of the files pertaining to the lease agreements were ‘misplaced’ in the early 80s because of the transfer of the subject from one section to another. Now, a fresh survey of MCH properties was taken up. All the files are now being redrafted based on the Town Survey Land Records to take follow-up action. It has also initiated action against the staff responsible for misplacing the files. ‘‘We are also looking at the angle of the staff colluding with the tenants as the value of these properties has gone up considerably during these years,’’ an MCH official told City Express. Of the total 272 properties, the lease period of 52 properties has expired and the MCH has renewed and increased the lease amount in respect of 16 after consulting the local sub-registrar and taking into consideration the prevailing market price. The terms of agreement were also modified restricting the lease period to three years and enhancing the lease amount by 11.1 percent every year. This is expected to fetch MCH around Rs 10 lakh. With regard to the renewal and enhancement of lease amount of the remaining 36 properties, the MCH officials have already served eviction notices under the Andhra Pradesh Public Premises Act. ‘‘We will evict the tenants after giving them one chance as per the statute to submit their representation,’’ the official said.