Patna: A proposal to convert 3,631 leasehold properties under the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) into freehold properties could not be approved at the civic body’s 12th general meeting on Friday because the draft document was incomplete.
The proposal will now be placed before a special meeting of the Corporation board next week for ratification. It will subsequently be sent to the state government for final approval.
Under the proposed policy, leasehold properties would be converted to freehold status on payment of a conversion charge equivalent to 10% of the Minimum Value Register (MVR) rate for original allottees and 12% for subsequent allottees.
The meeting was chaired by Mayor Sita Sahu and attended by Deputy Mayor Reshmi Kumari, Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, members of the Empowered Standing Committee, officials and ward councillors.
Plots, Flats And Shops Covered
The proposed conversion covers plots, buildings, flats, shops and kiosks, offices and other properties in areas including Rajendra Nagar, Shrikrishnapuri, PIT Colony in Kankarbagh, Beur Road, Maurya Lok and Transport Nagar.
According to the Corporation, the properties comprise:
- 1,367 plots
- 806 buildings
- 841 flats
- 575 shops and kiosks
- 37 offices
- four guest houses
- one brick kiln
Kumar Sanjit, a member of the Empowered Standing Committee, pointed out that Maurya Lok and Transport Nagar were not part of the original proposal but have now been included.
Councillor Ashish Kumar Sinha called for land disposal regulations and suggested that revenue generated through freehold conversion should be used to acquire new assets and strengthen the Corporation’s revenue base.
Councillor Vinay Kumar Pappu questioned the proposed two-percentage-point difference in conversion charges for subsequent allottees, particularly those who had violated rules by buying or selling leasehold properties. He called for higher charges in such cases and demanded that the names of rule-violating allottees be made public.
Streetlights, Garbage Collection Dominate Meeting
The meeting also saw heated discussions over civic services, particularly faulty streetlights and irregular garbage collection.
Councillor Amar Kumar raised concerns about accidents and rising crime allegedly linked to non-functional streetlights along Atal Path.
Other councillors complained that civic amenities had not improved despite increases in holding and commercial taxes. They also raised concerns about drains being constructed at a level higher than adjoining roads.
Councillors demanded that at least 50% of the funds under the One Crore Councillor Fund Scheme 4.0 be released to wards, saying only 10% had so far been made available.
The council unanimously demanded the purchase of two e-rickshaws for garbage collection in each ward. Waterlogging in Wards 7 and 66 was also raised.
Councillor Ashish Kumar sought an inquiry into the failure to drill a borewell in Ward 38, alleging that government orders had been violated. It was agreed that a proposal for borewells in all wards would be placed before the next meeting of the Empowered Standing Committee.
Councillor Vinay Kumar also suggested adopting a uniform staffing model for civic operations, choosing between permanent, daily-wage or outsourced workers.
PMC Spending Rs 30 Crore A Month On Sanitation
Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena said the Corporation is currently spending about Rs 30 crore a month on sanitation.
He said an order had been issued to assign activities ranging from garbage collection to road cleaning to a single agency. He suggested that officials visit other major municipal corporations to study how similar systems are being implemented.
The Corporation is currently facing a shortage of garbage collection vehicles and other resources. The tender for streetlight-related work was cancelled at the departmental level, with discussions on the issue continuing.
Binod Kumar, a member of the Empowered Standing Committee, directed that a proposal to appoint an agency for Rs 555.32 crore over four years under the integrated solid waste management system be placed before the committee. The proposed agency would handle activities including waste collection and street cleaning.
Councillors Question Commercial Use Of Residential Buildings
The meeting also highlighted concerns over the widespread commercial use of buildings classified as residential.
Councillor Satish Kumar pointed to what he described as a contradiction in the Corporation’s approach: commercial tax is collected from some properties even though those properties are not officially classified as commercial.
Councillor Vinay Kumar claimed that commercial activities are taking place in 80% of the city’s buildings and called for clear demarcation between residential and commercial zones.
Councillors questioned the basis for collecting commercial tax if commercial activity is prohibited in residential areas, while also issuing notices to property owners over the commercial use of residential premises.
35 High-Mast Lights Approved
Among the proposals approved at the meeting was the installation of 35 high-mast lights across the city using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, at a cost of Rs 1.62 crore.
Tube wells were also approved for Wards 39, 54, 22B, 51 and 58, at an estimated cost of Rs 6.78 lakh.
The proposed freehold conversion of thousands of leasehold properties will now await consideration at the special board meeting before proceeding to the state government for final approval.
