CM’s announcement to fix rent for buildings in poramboke land a relief for Pondy municipality

Pondicherry Municipality to generate revenue by fixing rent for buildings on government poramboke land in commercial hub.

The cash-strapped Pondicherry Municipality is likely to get a revenue bonanza with the government planning to fix rent for buildings constructed in a government poramboke land in the commercial hub of Anna Salai in Puducherry.

The details of the availability of a government poramboke land from Old Newton Theatre to Pothy’s on Anna Salai was disclosed for the first time by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy himself in the ongoing session of Puducherry Assembly during the question hour.

The Chief Minister in reply to a question by the Independent legislator Nehru alias Kuppusamy said that the land parcel stretching from Old Newton Theatre (Opposite Botanical Garden) to Pothy’s was government poramboke land and the buildings in the area were constructed by individuals over the years. The government was taking steps to fix rent for the buildings there, he had said in the Assembly.

Enquiries made by The Hindu revealed that the land extended to around 1, 2786 metre square and was worth hundreds of crores. “Even if we go by the current GLR value, it will be valued at around ₹150 crore and the market value will be several times higher. There are around 88 shops currently functioning in the area. They are all held by various individuals and the Municipality had stopped renewing trade license to these establishments after we stumbled upon the history of the land,” said a senior official.

According to officials, the availability of poramboke land in the prime area of the town came to the knowledge of the administration when efforts were made some years ago to construct an approach road for Thiru Vi Ka Government School in the area.

“When we searched the old records, the government found that the erstwhile French establishment had given the land to one Ponnammal on a concession agreement for construction of a Choultry and pond in the year 1840. After the death of Ponnammal, her grandson and great grandson were in possession of the property. However, the Chief Commissioner of Government of Pondicherry issued an order cancelling the concession agreement on June 25, 1963. The land was merged with the territorial administration on the ground that the purpose for which the concession was given ceased to exist,” the official said.

The official said the descendants of Ponnammal had challenged the reunification of the land with Puducherry government in the District Court and Madras High Court. In 2017, the Madras High Court had set aside the order issued by the Chief Commissioner cancelling the concession agreement.