The worth of the assets and properties owned by 120 of the total 170-odd municipalities and municipal corporations in Andhra Pradesh is estimated to be about Rs 1 lakh crore, as per government value. The actual worth, according to the prevailing market rates, would be ten times more, sources said.
The above mentioned valuation does not include properties owned by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, as the survey to assess the properties of these corporations is yet to be completed, as is the case with 50-odd other newly formed municipalities in the state. Municipal bodies-owned properties include land, buildings, roads, drains, parks, playgrounds, culverts, streetlights, bridges and flyovers, and water bodies among others.
As per survey reports submitted to the municipal administration depar-tment, the government value of immovable properties owned by the 120-odd municipalities was Rs 94,050 crore, and that of movable was Rs 1,226 crore. The respective municipalities were asked to list out and assess their movable and immovable assets, as the exercise is mandatory for the municipal bodies to avail grants and other funds from the 13th Finance Commission.
“All the details (of movable and immovable properties of around 120 municipalities) will soon be placed in public domain so that citizens can play a role in protecting the properties and curbing encroachments. All the municipal bodies are following double accounting accrual system that facilitates transparency, and makes officials accountable,” said Dr B. Janardhan Reddy, commissioner and director of municipal administration.
The municipal property details will also be published in books that will be sent to various departments to check illegal lease and sale, and unauthorized construction activity.