TRS, MIM lock horns over lease period

​Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporators have locked horns in a battle over the proposal to grant lease of markets and other properties for 25 years.

The MIM corporators opposed the move as proposal, if implemented, will deprive livelihood of a number of families. Most of the leaseholders are small traders. On the contrary, the TRS corporators insisted on amending the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act to reduce maximum lease period for 12 months.

According to GHMC official, the civic body has decided to amend the section 148 of the GHMC Act pertaining to tenure of the lease.

The government and the civic body would lose their right over the properties on the lease if the leaseholders remain in such addresses for more than 25 years.

The GHMC, however, has been collecting nominal rent from such leaseholders to show that these properties are still under the control of the civic body. Now it is proposed to amend the Act reduce the lease period to 12 months and fix the rent for each property on the basis of current market value.

A senior GHMC official told The Hans India that a Standing Committee member from MIM has opposed the new proposal and sought postponement of the issue.

He said the Standing Committee member along with other MIM corporators will inspect all leased properties before taking a decision on it. He also said the MIM party members also opposed the 25 year maximum lease period prescribed in the Act.

But the GHMC official said the TRS corporators were firm in their resolve in abolishing the 25 years maximum lease period and make it 12 months. He said 90 per cent of the existing tenants in its 29 markets and 19 shopping complexes have been existing on the properties for more than 25 years.

The official said the GHMC has been losing whopping amounts of revenue. The amendment would not only enhance the revenue but also give them authority to keep right over properties on the lease.

Meanwhile, the GHMC has leased out properties for periods ranging between 25 and 50 years in the 2,270 market stalls and 720 shops in different parts of the twin cities.

The time limit of 25 years was incorporated in the GHMC Act to make it on a par with procedures prevailing in the municipalities and lease of government lands for industrial or trade purposes.