The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : KSPCB offices sealed over arrears row

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Saturday, Mar 29, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

KSPCB offices sealed over arrears row

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: In a move that took the staff of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officials by surprise, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials sealed the board’s offices in the 7th and 22nd floors of the Public Utility Building on M.G. Road on Friday, seeking arrears of the enhanced rent.

According to KSPCB chairman H.C. Sharatchandra, the board had paid the rent up to March 31, 2008. The BBMP, it is learnt, had sought Rs. 56 lakh as arrears of the enhanced rent with retrospective effect. Though the BBMP had sought to enhance rent from 2006, the board had been paying the enhanced rent from 2007, he added.

Mr. Sharatchandra said the BBMP had served a notice to the board on the enhancement and it had been told that the arrears would not be paid. Mr. Sharatchandra said: “The move by BBMP is not in accordance with the Eviction of Public Premises Act and amounts to trespassing by BBMP officials, illegal locking and obstructing government servants on duty. The board is not ready to pay rent with retrospective effect and we are seeking negotiations.”

Meanwhile, a senior BBMP official told The Hindu that they were forced to take action against the KSPCB as huge arrears and dues had to be collected from the board.

“We are incurring huge expenses towards the maintenance of the Public Utility Building towards lift, electricity, water, cleaning and others. Unless we receive rent and dues on time, maintenance will be difficult,” he said.

The official pointed out that a similar move had been initiated earlier against the Minor Irrigation Department office in Jayanagar Shopping Complex.

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