The Times of India  18.11.2010

PMC extends deadline for suggestions, objections

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has extended the deadline for submitting suggestions and objections to the proposed changes in the land lease policy. The civic body has also prepared a draft for the same, which is available at the PMC’s land and estate department. Citizens can submit their suggestions and objections till December 3.

Six years after becoming the first civic body in the state to have a land lease policy, the PMC now wants to extend the duration of the lease period from the current 30 years to 99 years. The policy, ratified by the high court, bans the PMC from selling its properties.

The PMC had invited objections and suggestions from citizens to the proposed changes. The suggestions and objections were to be sent to the land and property department within a fortnight from November 3. However, the PMC had not prepared any draft to seek suggestions and objections. With no draft in place, activists had questioned the PMC’s move. “On what basis should citizens register their suggestions and objections?” civic activist Vijay Kumbhar had asked.

Now the PMC has prepared a draft, which is available at the PMC’s land and estate department. Citizens can submit their suggestions and objections till December 3.

Activists allege that most properties have been leased out to organisations and people with connections to corporators and politicians. In 2003, Kumbhar had approached the high court, which had ordered that civic properties be leased only through a tendering system.

The civic body owns about 3,500 properties reserved for hospitals, community halls, libraries, schools, etc.