PWD collects Rs 10 crore due rents
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 01 2019:
With the completion of verification of the occupants of its quarters, PWD has collected due house rents of around Rs 10 crore from quarters allottees.
PWD has around 1800 quarters at Lamphelpat, Langol Housing Complex, National Games Village, Major Khul, DM College Campus, 2nd MR complex, Babupara, Sanjenthong and New Checkon Tribal Colony.
Following reports about unauthorised occupation of these quarters and non-payment of rents by allottees, PWD carried out verification of all the occupants of these quarters under the instruction of the Chief Minister and the Works Minister.
The verification work was carried out by the EE, AE-II, AE-III, AE-IV of PWD's Building Division-2 and their subordinate staff.
PWD Building Division-2, EE Yumnam Munindro told The Sangai Express that around 1800 quarters of PWD have been verified after a very long gap under an instruction of the Chief Minister and the Works Minister.
Of the around 1800 quarters, around 40 were found occupied without any authorisation.
As such, the unauthorised occupants have been served notice to vacate the quarters within seven days.
Moreover, after completion of due eviction process, fresh allotment has been made, Munindro said.
In the course of the verification process, house rents which have not been paid since 2016-17 till 2018-19 have been collected and it amounted to around Rs 10 crore.
The department has deposited the same amount in Government account number 0216, said the EE.
As per rules, all allottees should pay their house rents every month.
If any allottee does not pay house rent for more than two months, his/her allotment should be cancelled.
Moreover, most of the PWD quarters have been found extended by the allottees/occupants and this is against the rules, Munindro said.
The allottees were advised to pay their house rents in time during the recent verification drive and necessary steps have also been initiated to ensure that the allottees pay their house rents regularly, he claimed.
He said that similar verification drive would be carried out every year.
One primary reason for the failure of allottees to pay house rents in time is communication gap between them and DDOs concerned .
As such it is essential for DDOs to inquire into the matter, he said.
On the other hand, most of the quarters need repairing.
As repairing a single quarters would require around Rs 2/3 lakh, the Government is facing a huge financial burden.
Nonetheless, repairing work has begun since last year, Munindro added.