Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is facing significant financial losses due to around 4,305 pending lease deed renewal cases. The negligence of BMC officials in renewing these leases has caused crores of rupees in losses to the cash-strapped municipal body. Employees’ salaries are being delayed as a result of the empty exchequer.
The responsibility for this laxity in lease renewal has been attributed to civic body officials by BJP corporators of the party-led municipal body. Devendra Bhargava, a BJP corporator, accused BMC officials of colluding with the leaseholders, leading to the pendency of a large number of leases and incurring losses amounting to crores of rupees. Mayor-in-Council (MiC-revenue) Jagdish Yadav expressed concern over the issue and urged BMC officials to take prompt action to resolve the pending lease cases.
Mayor Malti Rai has requested the revenue cell to provide details of the pending lease cases so that necessary action can be initiated. Recognizing the financial impact on the BMC, Mayor Rai emphasized the need to expedite the lease renewals to strengthen the corporation’s funds.
BMC’s Additional Commissioner, Sandhya Chaturvedi, warned that if leaseholders fail to renew their lease deeds and settle their dues, the civic body will cancel their leases. Chaturvedi also mentioned that the BMC has already renewed certain leases on an ex-party basis.
The revenue cell of BMC has provided details of the pending lease cases in different zones, including the following:
Zone 1 – 341 pending lease cases
Zone 2 – 143 pending lease cases
Zone 3 – 79 pending lease cases
Zone 4 – 1,260 pending lease cases
Zone 5 – 470 pending lease cases
Zone 6 – 62 pending lease cases
Zone 7 – 44 pending lease cases
Zone 8 – 452 pending lease cases
Zone 9 – 158 pending lease cases
Zone 10 – 11 pending lease cases
Zone 11 – 13 pending lease cases
Zone 12 – 11 pending lease cases
Zone 13 – 69 pending lease cases
Zone 14 – 6 pending lease cases
Zone 15 – 258 pending lease cases
Zone 16 – 1 pending lease case
Zone 17 – 927 pending lease cases
The BMC is now under pressure to resolve these pending lease cases as soon as possible to minimize further losses and replenish their finances. Prompt action is required to ensure the financial stability of the cash-strapped municipal body.
