The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : SCB notices set to open Pandora’s Box

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Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

SCB notices set to open Pandora’s Box

Only 7 bungalows taken over

SC declares records in GLR as authentic
SCB earns upto Rs. 40 lakhs in property tax

HYDERABAD: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board’s decision to issue notices to 42 of ‘old grant bungalows’ for converting them into commercial places, is all set to open a Pandora’s Box.

While notices to revert the lands to the original purpose or pay stiff penal fees are to be sent in a day or two, the SCB action has also unearthed a little known scandalous fact. That the Union Government owns close to 600 acres of prime land, currently in private hands, and nothing has been done till date to take possession over decades.

If the 142 ‘old grant bungalows’ occupy 484 acres, with each occupying 1.5 acres to 15 acres and more, were given by the British for an indefinite period of time in the 19th century, there are other ‘leased’ lands of more than 100 acres.

Limited powers

In the last 10 years or so, the SCB has been able to take possession of only seven such bungalows. “The Government of India only has the power to take possession of the land when the armed forces feel the need for it without paying any compensation to the present occupant,” says SCB Chief Executive Officer V. Premchand.

So, why the Union Government sleeps over thousands of acres in all Cantonments, including Secunderabad, without taking possession when there is tremendous demand for land is a real mystery.

Lands given

Most old grant bungalows and leased lands given for residences have turned into swank function palaces, restaurants, garages, dhabhas, educational institutions, religious places, etc.

Mr. Premchand and Defence Estates Officer (DEO) S. Balakrishna poured through records to prepare an exhaustive list of lands belonging to the Government and currently lying with private hands either free or paying a pittance as lease fee. They have decided to concentrate on some of the old grant bungalows also called ‘B4’ lands to begin with.

Rentals

The case of leased lands (B3) is no less outrageous. Rental collected is a pittance with Re.1 or Rs.2 paid annually although SCB earns between Rs.30 and Rs 40 lakhs as property tax. There are leased lands with fixed tenures and those with no fixed period but the Union Government can take them over if there is a single violation of building or land. “Not a single land was taken in any of the Cantonments in the country,” sighs an official.

Sound wicket

Legally, the Government is on a sound wicket since the Supreme Court has declared that records in the General Land Register (GLR) as authentic since land registration act was non-existent when the lands were given. Vacant lands attract land sharks and in the last few years close to 40 acres was taken possession, says Mr. Balakrishna, fighting 450 land cases in the court. And to think, the Defence Ministry is demanding land compensation for road widening!

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