The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Master files pertaining to BBMP properties missing

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Saturday, Feb 19, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Master files pertaining to BBMP properties missing

Chitra V. Ramani

Estates Department recreating files of various properties

BBMP has leased out 394 of its properties in three zones
Officials have not taken steps to collect the lease amount

Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to have lost track of the properties it owns. One of the main reasons is that master files pertaining to several properties have gone missing.

The civic authority's Estates Department has now taken up the task of recreating the files of the various properties it owns. According to last count, the BBMP had leased out 394 of its properties in three zones — East, West and South. It was discovered only recently that the lease of 208 properties had expired. No efforts have been made to either renew the lease or re-possess the properties.

According to reliable sources, BBMP officials have also not taken steps to collect the lease amount from the lessees. The civic authority is already reeling under heavy financial burden. With the leases not being renewed and lease amounts not collected, the civic authority is losing out on revenue.

Notices issued

To check this, around three months ago, the BBMP had issued notices to properties whose lease had expired under the Karnataka Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1974. According to Section 5 of the Act, either notices have to be issued to the lessees and the properties have to be repossessed or the lease period has to be renewed.

Sources said that following this, applications from lessees of 43 properties came before the BBMP seeking renewal. Of these, the BBMP has rejected four applications.

The lessees were also directed to submit the lease and other relevant documents to the head office, so that duplicate files could be created.

“So far, duplicate files pertaining to 201 of the 208 properties whose lease period has expired have been built up. Similarly, files for 153 of the 186 properties that are under the current lease period have been built up,” sources said.

Meeting

Sources said that Commissioner Siddaiah is keen on streamlining the department. “Earlier, there was no Estates Department. The documents were also not maintained properly. After the department was created, some files were not transferred from the Revenue Department,” they said.

They added that Mr. Siddaiah would chair a meeting with the revenue officials from all the zones to ascertain the reasons for the delay in repossessing the properties and non-collection of lease amount. Action would be initiated against officials responsible.

Interestingly, the issue had earlier been discussed in the BBMP Council as well, following which Mayor S.K. Nataraj had formed a committee headed by Byrasandra councillor N. Nagaraj. The committee inspected several properties and directed officials to take corrective steps immediately. However, no action has been initiated by the officials concerned.

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