The issue of encroachment and unauthorised constructions on municipal lands dominated the board meeting of Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, here on Monday. However, it was decided on the suggestion of Mayor Vinod Chamoli that a presentation of the videography of prominent municipal land encroachment cases in the city will be shown on the large screen in Town Hall on Friday.
With considerably low tax being collected on commercial properties, it was also decided that a campaign will be undertaken from June 15 to July 15 for evaluation and collection of commercial property tax. During discussion on action taken on the proceedings of the last board meeting, Councillors complained that they had been consistently pointing and encroachment on municipal lands but necessary action was not being taken by the officials.
Councillors of various wards complained that despite repeated complaints, either the MCD officials or the State administration had not taken any effective action against illegal constructions on municipal lands across Dehradun. The councillors debated 18 bigha municipal land near the lalpul in Patelnagar which had been stated as not belonging to the MCD by the Sub Divisional Magistrate following three joint inspections.
They expressed doubts on this status and demanded ascertain of the 18 bigha municipal land’s status. The Mayor recommended that this case be added to the land related cases under Vigilance inquiry. Councillors complained that despite repeated debates on encroachment, the required action was not being taken and municipal land was being lost to encroachment as a result.
Chamoli said that a videography of 22 prominent cases of municipal land encroachment would be presented in the Town Hall on Friday after which all the councillors will accompany officials to the identified sites for necessary action. With only about Rs10,000 commercial property tax being collected by the MCD it was also decided that a month long drive will be conducted from June 15 for evaluation and collection of commercial property tax.