MARGAO
The rent issue has been dogging the civic body over the years, with the rent arrears only piling up with each passing year.
Margao Municipal Council chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai, however, now says that the day is not too far when the the Council will be richer by around 40 lakh immediately. After capping discussions with Bharat Petroleum officials, Babita said the company has agreed to pay the rent arrears to the tune of Rs 40 lakh for the two petrol pumps.
“BP officials have agreed to pay the rent arrears amounting to a whopping Rs 40 lakh. The company in return insisted that the civic body enter into fresh lease agreements for a period of three years. The municipal retainer has been asked to go into the issue of lease agreement. I expect BP to clear the rent dues immediately,”
Babita said.
She has exuded confidence that Hindustan Petroleum, the second company, which has been operating two petrol pumps on MMC land, will follow suit and clear their share of the pending municipal rent.
The Margao Municipal Council had leased out its prime land to the petroleum companies in the heart of the town. Sources in the know says the rent was neither revised for a long time nor were the companies clearing the
huge arrears.
There’s been allegations that the companies had encroached upon the public land, but action has not been forthcoming from the civic bodies for reasons best known to the powers that be and the municipal babus.
