Patiala MC paying ₹10L lakh annual land lease for scrapped project

PATIALA: Even as the state government had scrapped the solid waste management project in 2017, the Patiala municipal corporation (MC) continue to pay lease amount of ₹10 lakh a year for the land acquired to set up the plant.

The MC had taken possession of at least 20 acre at Dudhar village, in Samana sub-division, in 2013. The civic body had signed an agreement with the panchayat to pay lease amount of ₹50,000 per acre or ₹10 lakh every year).

In 2017, after coming to power, the Congress-led state government had scrapped the solid waste management project mooted by the former Patiala MC, which was led by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), over tendering issues.

The project has been hanging fire since. As per record, the MC has paid ₹55 lakh to the panchayat in past five years for the project, which has not materialised

If we surrender the land, the MC will have to acquire land for this or some other project from scratch SANJEEV SHARMA BITTU, Mayor, Patiala

till date.

“It is bizarre to pay for land, which lies abandoned and unused. Moreover, it is causing an additional financial burden of ₹10 lakh on the MC exchequer, as there is no profit as of now,” said an official.

He added that the civic body was also paying an additional enhancement cost of ₹5 lakh as per the agreement.

MC commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said they are aware of the fact that the lease was being paid, without any use of the land.