Society halls should pay us, says Vijayawada Municipal Corporation

Vijayawada: The land allotted by the VMC for community halls is being misused by private societies. The private societies built structures stating they would be used as community halls - to hold public functions. However, a majority of the Societies are running business establishments in these structures but not paying a single penny to the VMC, from their income, for using the land.

In Vijayawada, there are five community halls, which are being run by the Societies, comprising only 1-2 persons, who do not respond to the calls by the VMC officials. Surprisingly, the VMC does not ask the private societies for their share of income. Instead, it keeps on asking them for accounts, by-laws. Of the total 5 community halls in the city, only Fun Times Club Society had submitted a copy of the by-laws copy to the VMC.

The Societies' members  have to get the permission of the VMC to modify or construct new blocks, but nothing is being done in this regard so far. The by-laws say that the mayor, commissioner and the local corporator should also be made members of the society. The cheque power of Funtimes, was first given to the commissioner, along with the representatives of the society. Later, they have transferred the cheque power to the secretary and treasurer, without any intimation to the VMC. Restaurants are being run in a majority of the lands allocated to the Societies, without any permission.

The VMC officials said some community halls are not submitting their accounts to the VMC, not seeking permission to modify the structures and not constructing the structures under the supervision of corporation engineers. That apart, the municipal commissioner will have to be ex-officio member in all the societies. But, nobody has implementing this. Mayor Koneru Sridhar told Deccan Chronicle the community halls should pay their share to the VMC as they are not paying any tax, electricity bill, or water bill.