Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) deferred a proposal to grant ownership rights to 3,631 leasehold properties during its 12th general meeting after officials failed to present a complete draft document.
The proposal will be placed before a special meeting of the Corporation Council within a week for ratification. It will then be sent to the state government for final approval.
Under the proposed system, leasehold properties would be converted into freehold assets after payment of a conversion charge. Original allottees would pay 10% of the Minimum Value Register (MVR) rate, while subsequent allottees would pay 12%.
The proposal covers plots, buildings, flats, shops, kiosks and offices in areas including Rajendra Nagar, Shrikrishnapuri, PIT Colony in Kankarbagh, Beur Road, Maurya Lok and Transport Nagar.
3,631 Properties Covered
According to the Corporation, the properties include 1,367 plots, 806 buildings, 841 flats, 575 shops and kiosks, 37 offices, four guest houses and one brick kiln.
Councilor Ashish Kumar Sinha called for land disposal regulations and said revenue generated from the conversion should be used to acquire new assets and strengthen the Corporation’s revenue sources.
Councilor Vinay Kumar Pappu questioned the proposed two-percentage-point difference in conversion charges between original and subsequent allottees, particularly where properties had been bought or sold in violation of lease conditions.
He demanded higher charges for such cases and sought publication of the list of allottees who had violated the rules.
Kumar Sanjit, a member of the Empowered Standing Committee, said Maurya Lok and Transport Nagar were not part of the original proposal but had subsequently been included.
Councillors Raise Streetlight And Civic Issues
The meeting also saw sharp exchanges over faulty streetlights, garbage collection and civic infrastructure.
Councilor Amar Kumar raised concerns about non-functional streetlights on Atal Path, linking the issue to road accidents and safety concerns.
Councilor Indradeep Kumar Chandravanshi questioned the increase in holding and commercial taxes, saying civic amenities had not improved proportionately.
Councillors also raised concerns about drains being constructed at a level higher than roads, which they said could contribute to waterlogging.
They demanded that at least 50% of the Rs 1 crore allocated to each ward under the ‘Councilor Fund Scheme 4.0’ be released. Only 10% had reportedly been released so far.
Councillors also unanimously called for two e-rickshaws to be provided to each ward for garbage collection.
Waterlogging in Wards 7 and 66 was raised during the meeting. Councilor Ashish Kumar sought an inquiry into the failure to install a borewell in Ward 38, alleging that government orders had been violated.
The Corporation agreed to place a proposal for borewell installations across all wards before the next Empowered Standing Committee meeting.
Councilor Vinay Kumar also suggested adopting a uniform staffing model, with the Corporation choosing between permanent, daily-wage or outsourced personnel.
PMC Spends Rs 30 Crore A Month On Sanitation
Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena said the Corporation spends around Rs 30 crore every month on sanitation.
He said the department had issued an order to assign work ranging from garbage collection to road cleaning to a single agency. He suggested studying similar systems used by other major municipal bodies before implementing the model.
Meena also acknowledged a shortage of garbage collection vehicles and other resources. The tender related to streetlights had been cancelled at the departmental level, and discussions on the matter have resumed.
Binod Kumar, a member of the Empowered Standing Committee, sought the tabling of a proposal to appoint an agency under a four-year, Rs 555.32 crore contract for garbage collection, road cleaning and other activities under an integrated solid waste management system.
Questions Over Commercial Tax
The meeting also raised questions about the classification of residential and commercial properties.
Councilor Satish Kumar said the Corporation collects commercial tax from some properties but does not classify the same properties as commercial.
Councilor Vinay Kumar claimed commercial activities take place in around 80% of the city’s buildings and called for clearer definitions of residential and commercial zones.
Councillors questioned how commercial tax could be collected from properties while notices were simultaneously issued over their alleged commercial use in residential areas.
The meeting was chaired by Mayor Sita Sahu. Deputy Mayor Reshmi Kumari, Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, members of the Empowered Standing Committee, Corporation officials and ward councillors attended the meeting.
Other Proposals Approved
The Corporation approved the installation of 35 high-mast lights across the city using corporate social responsibility funds at a cost of Rs 1.62 crore.
It also approved the installation of tube wells in Wards 39, 54, 22B, 51 and 58 at a cost of Rs 6.78 lakh.
