EVEN AFTER ten years, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has failed to take possession of some 55 houses — officially the corporation property, yet in possession of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department for all practical purposes.
The upshot is the PHE not only allots these houses, but also collects the rents. Interestingly, the corporations owns the property on paper. And the property was handed over to it long ago.
After a government decision, all the drinking water supply schemes of the State capital were handed over to the BMC in November 1995. The BMC had also got 158 houses of different types along with these water supply schemes. There was an official agreement to this effect.
Of these 158 houses, about 100 are situated at different sites of water supply plants. The PHE officials claimed that these 100 houses are in possession of the BMC. Remaining houses situated in the City are in possession of PHE authorities.
The BMC administration has not taken any initiative in the past ten years to take possession of its property. In a way, the PHE is exercising all the ownership rights on the properties. However, the PHE is also facing the problem of carrying out maintenance of these houses.
{{/usCountry}}The BMC administration has not taken any initiative in the past ten years to take possession of its property. In a way, the PHE is exercising all the ownership rights on the properties. However, the PHE is also facing the problem of carrying out maintenance of these houses.
{{/usCountry}}In 1995, it was decided that the PHE would shift employees and officials occupying the houses to other government accommodation. Taking the advantage of the BMC inaction.
The PHE authorities re-allotted vacant houses to PHE employees and officials in the past ten years. Moreover, a retired executive engineer of PHE has been living in an accommodation in Arera Colony.
According to documents signed at that time, about 20 houses were in possession of the employees and officials, whose services were given to the BMC on deputation along with the water supply. The agreement document mentioned that 54 houses would be handed over.
When asked, BMC Commissioner Manish Singh said it had come to his notice recently and the BMC administration has already listed such properties. “The BMC has taken initiatives to take these properties back from the PHE. The BMC is trying to get the possession of these properties,” he added. On the other hand, the PHE officials said they are examining their records.