Pondicherry fixes rent for buildings on government land

The Pondicherry Municipality is set to receive a financial boost. The government plans to set rental prices for buildings on poramboke land in the commercial area of Anna Salai. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced this during a session of the Puducherry Assembly. The land in question stretches from Old Newton Theatre to Pothy’s. It covers about 12,786 square meters and could be worth up to ₹150 crores, according to government estimates. Currently, around 88 shops operate in this area, and the municipality had stopped renewing their trade licenses upon discovering the land's status. Officials found out about the poramboke land when they were looking into building a new road. Historical records revealed that this land was originally given on a concession for constructing a choultry and pond in 1840. The government took back the land in 1963, but the ruling was contested in court by the descendants of the original landholder. In a 2017 ruling, the Madras High Court overturned the government's cancellation of the concession agreement. Although the government had the option to appeal, it did not do so at that time. Recently, the Directorate of Survey and Land Records has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court's decision. The municipal government is optimistic about reclaiming this land. The Chief Minister's announcement to fix rent will help the municipality generate much-needed revenue, which is critical for paying staff salaries and improving financial stability.