PAC concerned over low maintenance of govt properties record

Expressing dissatisfaction at the maintenance of records of government properties, the Parliamentary Accounts Committee has asked the Urban Development ministry to ensure that authentic data is collected and missing files are located.
In its 78th report, the PAC, headed by Murli Manohar Joshi, said that in response to their earlier recommendations, the Land and Development Office (LDO) had begun to make inspections to arrive at an authentic figure of all leased properties.
"But the Committee finds that the position is still far from satisfactory. For example, 46 files pertaining to the Nazul properties are yet to be traced and 68 inputs still to be completed. Similarly, for rehabilitation properties, as many as 12,188 inputs are pending completion," the PAC said in its report.

The PAC asked the UD ministry and the LDO to intensify measures so that the "entrusted responsibility of the overall lease administration including substitution and mutation of title of prime government properties in Delhi is carried out in a smooth and seamless manner."
The committee also expressed concern over unauthorised occupation of land by some religious institutions.
"The Committee are of the considered view that any encroachment and grabbing of precious land in the guise of religion is unacceptable and all such encroachments must be removed with firmness and necessary persuasion," the PAC report said.
It suggested disconnection of electricity and water connections to those religious or charitable structures which were being misused for residential or commercial purposes.

The PAC also stressed that the ground rent that is due should be recovered by the government.