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Row in Assembly over land lease issue

PUDUCHERRY: Issues relating to leasing out of government lands by local bodies allegedly for 99 years in spite of an announcement made by the Minister concerned in the House that they could not be leased for over 20 years, rocked the Assembly on Wednesday.

Members belonging to different parties made strong pleas to the government to take stern action against such violations. They also pleaded for retrieval of these lands. Some of them wanted a judicial probe into the issue.

Chief Minister N.Rangasamy announced in the House that the government would enquire into the issue and take necessary steps to allay the apprehensions of the members with regard to the leasing period and ensure that the rent collected from the tenants was hiked suitably.

Responding to a calling attention motion moved by leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) legislature party A.Anbalagan and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member R.Siva, he said the government had leased out 814 sq. ft. land for 99 years only to Manakkula Vinayagar temple in Puducherry for constructing a mandapam for a rent of one rupee a year.

In other cases, the lands owned by the government or the municipality had been leased out only to the period stipulated by law, he pointed out. Quoting relevant Acts, he said licence could not be given for any individual to use the government land for not more that 19 years.

Mr.Rangasamy, who presented a statement on the issue, said that as the devotees of the Aurobindo Ashram wanted to preserve the site used by the Mother for playing tennis, the government swapped the land for one in Ellapillaichavadi.

The transfer of land was done after getting the Central government’s permission.

On the alleged irregularities related to the leasing of the Chamber of Commerce complex, the Chief Minister said necessary action would be taken after disposal of a case before the High Court in this regard.

Referring to the concern of the members over the low rent collected from the persons who had taken the government lands on lease, he said though it would be difficult to ask the established business houses to vacate, the municipality would be asked to hike the rent in tune with the prevailing situation.

Mr.Siva (DMK) said action should be taken against the tenants who had been leasing the business premises on government lands to others after collecting hefty amounts as ‘pagadi.’

R.Viswanathan (Communist Party of India) urged the government to appoint an enquiry commission headed by a retired judge to go into the leasing deals. Its recommendations should be implemented, he said.

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