The Collectorate has initiated a survey of properties leased out by it to ascertain how many leaseholders have installed mobile towers or boosters.
The Mumbai Collectorate is set to take action against leaseholders of government land who have allowed the construction of mobile phone towers on prime land without paying the necessary proceeds to the state.
The Collectorate has initiated a survey of properties leased out by it to ascertain how many leaseholders have installed mobile towers or boosters. The Collectorate, whose jurisdiction extends from Colaba to Mahim and Sion, will also serve demand notices to the leaseholders, seeking 50 per cent of the lease rent earned by them so far. In all, Mumbai and the suburban districts have about 38,000 towers and boosters.
This action comes amid concerns over the misuse of prime land, which house a number of posh housing societies, clubs, gymkhanas and institutions, and flagrant breach of lease conditions. The Collectorate has handed out about 1,391 leases, some of them on a perpetual basis, extending to even 999 years since the British era.
"We have launched a survey of mobile towers and hoardings that have come up on leased properties," said Dr Ashwini Joshi, Collector, Mumbai City. According to a 2007 government resolution, leaseholders had to pay 50 per cent of the rent earned by them to the government.
"We will ascertain which plots have mobile towers and boosters, the rents charged and then raise demand notices on leaseholders. We will coordinate with the BMC on the issue," said Joshi, adding that these demands would be raised on the leaseholders, and not telecom companies.
A performance audit in 2013 by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on government land leased out in three major districts, including Mumbai city and the suburbs, had detected large-scale irregularities, including non-availability of data on leased lands in the collectorates, no action being taken for eviction or renewal, even after the expiry of leases, and lack of data on arrears of land revenue.
The report, which was submitted to the state legislature, said that the land given on lease by the Collectorate breached lease agreements, while undue favours were granted through relaxations or concessions and encroachments.
The Collectorate will also publish lease details in the public domain to ensure transparency and prevent illegal transactions on government land.
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