Vadodara Municipal Corporation Grapples with Missing Rental Documents
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is confronting a persistent issue of disappearing old documents, particularly concerning shops it has rented out across the city. This problem has escalated as the civic body struggles to manage its rental properties effectively.
Substantial Unpaid Dues from Rental Properties
The VMC is owed approximately Rs 12 crore in outstanding rents from various properties, including shops, cabins, handcarts, and spaces allocated for temporary sheds. Despite maintaining a register of all rented properties, the corporation relies heavily on these rent registers as the primary documentation for many such assets.
In total, the VMC has rented out 2,737 properties, but the lack of proper paperwork for many, especially those leased decades ago, complicates rent collection efforts. A VMC official highlighted that numerous shops and cabins were rented out long ago, and the necessary documentation is no longer available, hindering the civic body's ability to recover dues that have remained unpaid for years.
Challenges in Record-Keeping and Revenue Generation
Sources reveal that over the years, many of these rented shops and cabins have been sublet or permanently transferred through one-time payments. The VMC permitted such transfers by charging a fee of Rs 25,000, but recipients reportedly profited significantly from these arrangements.
To address these issues, the standing committee has proposed revising rents and imposing higher charges if beneficiaries transfer shops to others. Sheetal Mistry, chairman of the VMC standing committee, emphasized the need for reasonable rent amounts to boost income. He noted, "The records of properties rented out before 1983 are not available. Our goal is to secure fair rents and enhance revenue through such measures."
The civic body is actively seeking ways to increase rent collection and explore new revenue avenues, given the critical state of its documentation and the substantial financial losses incurred.
