BELAGAVI: Activities have commenced within the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) to establish a committee of members tasked with identifying its properties worth crores of rupees in the city. Over the past 4-5 years, there has been a rising trend of theft of documents from various offices of BCC. According to the allegations, the theft incidents were orchestrated to destroy the original documents about the properties owned by the corporation, raising suspicions of extensive corruption and forgery.
According to the corporators of BCC, more than 95 properties belonging to the corporation have been given on lease and rent basis to government and private organisations that are into social service. Out of these, the lease period of more than 70 properties has expired and the corporation officials have not taken possession of them. Rent is not paid for many properties. However, the reluctance of the officials to get back the possession of such properties has raised doubts. So, the corporators raised the issue in the recently held general meeting of the BCC and reminded the officers of their responsibility.
Hanumant Kongali, an advocate turned BJP corporator, said that their colleagues (corporators) expressed their displeasure in the BCC meeting that due to the irresponsibility of the officers, the BCC is losing crores of rupees in annual tax.
Officials informed that till now Rs 26 crore is due from the BCC-owned assets.
The corporators also alleged that in the past since 2013, during the tenure of the administrators and commissioners in the corporation, many properties were leased out seamlessly. Some have used it for their personal gain, while others have set up commercial shops and are getting Rs 2-3 lakh monthly rent. It is as if the corporation has no control over any of these assets, the corporators said.
Few officials have acquired property in the name of social service and registered it in their name, the corporators said.
MLA Abhay Patil said that the officials do not have any information about how many and which properties have been leased. “What is even more special is that there have been cases of theft of documents in various offices of BCC in a period of 4-5 years. The destruction of original documents concerned to properties has given rise to suspicion. There has been large-scale ‘golmaal’. That is why a fact-finding committee comprising members should be formed or a high-level investigation should be conducted,” he said.
Survey being conducted to find properties
Reshma Talikote, commissioner of BCC revenue department, said that the corporation does not have clear information on which properties are leased, and where the properties are located. So, a survey is being conducted to find all the properties.
Ashok Dudagunti, commissioner BCC, said that the officials of the revenue department have been directed to conduct a survey and submit a report on all the assets of the corporation. Strict measures have been taken to protect the properties, he said.
