MC to auction vacant properties on freehold basis

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 14 

The Municipal Corporation today approved to e-auction its vacant commercial properties worth crores on freehold basis instead of leasehold basis in its General House meeting.

The vacant properties include a specialty hospital site and 20 SCFs in Mani Majra, 105 booths in Mauli Jagran, shops in the subway, Sector 17, 40 booths at new overbridge market in Sector 17 and booths in Sector 39.

The reserve price of the booths at the Sector 17 underbridge ranges between about Rs 55.12 lakh and Rs 80.74 lakh. The reserve price of booths at Mauli Jagran ranges between about Rs 10.96 lakh and Rs 35.5 lakh. The properties were built about five to 10 years ago. 

Traders have demanded to also bring down their rates as there is a slump in the market and the properties are not worth it buying for such amount. 

Toilets: RWAs, MWAs to get enhanced rates 

Rather than giving toilets to private players, who can operate and maintain these free of cost in lieu of ads, the cash-starved Municipal Corporation has decided to give increased monthly payment to the RWAs and market welfare associations.

The MWAs will be paid Rs 30,000 per market toilet block per month and the RWAs will be paid Rs 20,000 per green belt toilet block per month for operation and maintenance of public conveniences. Earlier, they used to be paid about Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,500.

However, Congress councillor Satish Kainth said, “Why don’t we give it to private firms? Why do we have to spend a huge amount of money on toilets when we can earn from them. If we allow ads to companies, they are ready to run it for free.”

On this, BJP councillor Arun Sood said, “How will we know they will earn Rs 15 crore or Rs 50 crore from ads.” The matter regarding payment is currently pending between the company and the MC in the high court.

However, for now, those toilets with MWAs and RWAs are allowed and decision regarding other toilets is not taken yet. 

Mention Mayor, councillor name 

MC councillors today resolved in the House that the UT Administration should be told to mention names of area councillor and Mayor on the nameplates of projects undertaken in their areas.

Councillor Arun Sood condemned the incident in which Mayor Rajesh Kalia and councillor Jagtar Singh had to face embarrassment. While councillor Gurbax Rawat said, “We had made efforts to send Chief Engineer Mukesh Anand from the MC to the UT Administration, but it is wrong how the councillors are dealt with now.”