With the formation of a new House of the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC), the House has started the process of initiating projects, which remained pending during the last tenure of the House. The House is planning to e-auction 169 vacant plots, which were not auctioned and were lying unused, in coming days. The previous House passed a resolution to e-auction these shops on March 20, 2023.
The new House has started the process in this regard and sent a proposal to the Urban Local Bodies Department seeking approval to proceed with the e-auction.
The authorities claimed that these plots were expected to bring revenue for the municipal body’s exchequer. Besides, it would boost urban development and beautification across the city as the vacant plots had turned into garbage dumping sites, causing inconvenience to neighbours.
As per the details, all plots are commercial in nature and are situated in Karna Canal market, earlier known as Mughal Canal market, Shaheed Bhagat Singh market, Nehru Palace market and the old vegetable market area.
Giving details, Mayor Renu Bala Gupta said they had sent a proposal to the Urban Local Bodies Department, seeking approval to proceed with the e-auction. “Once the permission is granted, online applications will be invited for the auction of these plots. To determine the reserve price for each site, the corporation has also written to the Deputy Commissioner to appoint evaluators. The evaluators will assess and fix the estimated market value of the plots, after which the auction process will begin,” she added.
This initiative was originally proposed two years ago. On March 20, 2023, the then House of the KMC passed a resolution approving the sale of these plots, which were carved out under various development schemes by the erstwhile Improvement Trust, now merged with the KMC. However, due to delays in receiving the necessary permissions and the subsequent expiration of the previous House’s term, the project was put on hold.
However, the MC, after passing the resolution, had sent a couple of reminders to the department.