Prasar Bharti plans to lease out hot plots

Putting all that behind now, the corporation wants to lease out its prime property in 49 zones, albeit for ‘‘interim utilisation’’ — to build fun parks with infrastructures like swimming pools, sports complexes, multiplexes, nurseries and community centres.

‘‘The capital investment on creation and maintenance of the infrastructure will not be made by Prasar Bharati. It shall be on build and transfer revenue sharing concept on a case to case basis,’’ states a corporation note.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry, on its part, has not only reminded the corporation that the lands have not been transferred to it yet, it has also asked CEO K.S. Sarma to keep in mind the housing needs of the employees of the corporation. The ministry has directed the

corporation to hire professional help to advise utilisation of the surplus land in a productive way.

Lastly, the corporation has been advised to do what it is supposed to do under the law which brought it to existence — the Prasar Bharati Act. ‘‘The corporation should not forget the provisions in the Prasar Bharati Act,’’ officials in the ministry said.

Sarma informed that the Prasar Bharati Board has cleared the proposal in principle. ‘‘Board members have sought more details and we are aware that the assets do not as yet belong to the corporation. But they can be leased out,’’ Sarma said, adding employees’ concern was his top priority.

Interestingly, the note prepared by the corporation gives the reason for putting its lands out on lease as: ‘‘Due to sky rocketing prices of the land in many cities and especially in the metros there is acute scarcity of various facilities like sports complexes, fun parks for the children and community centres as most of the prime land has been converted into markets, multiplexes or put to other more profitable commercial uses.’’

As for source of investment for the various projects, the note says there are many NRI as well as non-government organisations who shall be willing to provide the infrastructures on build, operate and transfer concept.