In SMC’s records, 25 houses in Limbayat zone are owned by the British government.
India attained independence from British rulers 62 years ago, but if SMC's records are to be believed, 25 houses in Limbayat area of Surat are still owned by the British government! The house tax bills issued by the civic body SMC shows the British Government as their owner. Despite repeated representations by residents and councillors, the anomaly remains unrectified.
These 25 houses are located near Ratan Chowk in Nava Nagar, Limbayat zone. Though their owners are Indians, they are shown to be owned by 'British government' in SMC's records. Actually, this is a mistake by the tax department of Limbayat zone. As per the zone records, these 25 houses are built on the land owned by the British government and property tax bills shows the area to be the 'land of Angrej government'. A common plot in the area also bears the same ownership.
"Ratan Chowk came into existence 30 years back, and these houses were built 15 years back. The house owners purchased plots and constructed houses. But in the civic body's records, the owners' names are shown in possession holders category, while ownership is shown to be of the British government," Sanjay Patil, councillor of ward no. 29, said. "We took up the issue several times with municipal authorities, but it fell on deaf ears. Recently, we have given a memorandum to municipal commissioner S Aparna and she has promised to take immediate action," Patil added.
The delay in change of name is irritating the residents and house owners. "It's an irony that the name of British government exists in ownership column of our houses, for no plausible reason. When this house is 15 years old, how can the ownership belong to Britishers, who left the country 62 years back? I am still waiting for the anomaly to be rectified," Jagdish Patil, one of the residents, said.
“There were many plots in the country, which were owned by the British government, and its name still exists as owner. The state government has changed ownership from time to time by issuing notifications. We will have to check whether these plots have undergone ownership change in city survey records or not.” SB Powar, in-charge municipal auditor, said.
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