New Boss Invigorates GHMC Estate Wing
Hyderabad: The estate wing of GHMC has 2,373 properties spread over six zones but due to the nexus between tenants, officials and politicians, several lease agreements have not been renewed for several years denting the corporation’s coffers of precious revenue.
According to the latest estimates of MA&UD department, an additional Rs.80 crore can be generated every year if the lease agreements are renewed as scheduled.
All places owned by the estate wing are commercial properties and are located in busy areas with markets located in them attracting heavy footfall all through the year. While some of the properties are at heritage sites, some are model markets.
In addition to Mozamjahi market, Goshamahal, Koti and Secunderabad, the GHMC also has 235 properties in Serilingampally zone.
Hissamgunj, Monda market, Mozamjahi market, Mahboob Chowk market and Mangalhat market are examples where the rental agreements have not been renewed for years.
While the monthly rent of some properties in these localities is less than Rs.1,000, private properties in the same lane are leased out for lakhs for the same duration.
The BRS government had complicated matters by handing over the monitoring responsibility to circle level officials, because of which the additional commissioner (AC) of the estate wing had less control over them. The BRS government also had shunted out IAS officers who were ACs after they started serving notices to tenants.
Verification revealed that the estate wing of the corporation was always kept out of limelight without even incorporating new staff despite acute staff crunch.
In order to end such irregularities, the new additional commissioner of the estate wing Sreevatsa Kota has decided to renew lease agreements and take up enforcement activity, if required, to fill the GHMC coffers.
GHMC Estates:
Number of zones: Six
Total number of properties : 2,373
L.B. Nagar zone: 386
Charminar: 233
Khairatabad: 759
Serilingampally: 235
Kukatpally: 85
Secunderabad: 675