UT Admn orders action against DLF
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 16
Real estate giant DLF is in the dock for allegedly violating the terms and conditions of allotment while raising a shopping mall-cum-multiplex at the DLF City Centre at the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP) here without the mandatory environment clearance.
A report submitted by the Estate Office to the Chandigarh Administration has revealed that 20 per cent of the allotted space, that was meant for a multi-utility block, was used to raise the multiplex. The remaining 80 per cent space in the DLF City Centre was meant for leasing out built-up space to IT companies.
Acting on the report, Sarvjit Singh, UT Finance Secretary, has directed the Estate Officer to take suitable action under the allotment rules. In 2007, the multiplex was in the news after the promoters were asked to amend the revised building plans as per the requirement.
The Administration had allotted 12.5 acres to DLF for providing built-up spaces for IT companies, including 20 per cent of the allotted area for providing multi-utility services. Instead, a multiplex was raised that also included shops and food courts.
The mall building adjacent to the premises of DLF Info City Developers, a joint venture of the DLF and the Chandigarh Administration, was inaugurated in May 2005 to provide infrastructure and IT-related services. The developer had signed an MoU with the Administration to create infrastructure there. The issue had found mention in a report pertaining to a special audit of the UT by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
UT Finance Secretary-cum-Chief Administrator Sarvjit Singh confirmed that based on the contents of the report, he had passed instructions to the Estate Officer to act against the developer.
DLF’s take
Rakesh Keriwell, Director (North), DLF, said all laws and rules had been complied with by the company while raising the structure. “The construction of the City Centre was in accordance with the existing building bylaws. All building plans had been approved. We will provide the necessary documents as and when asked for by the authorities”, he said.
UT imposes Rs 1.75 cr fine on developer
After hearing cases of violation pertaining to leasing out built-up space to non-IT companies by the DLF in the IT Park, the UT has imposed a fine of Rs 1.75 crore. The Department of Information Technology had previously issued a notice to DLF on non-IT activity in the IT Park. According to the allotment rules, built-up space can be leased out to companies that deal with IT and IT-enabled services. The DLF has now given an undertaking that it will abide by the rules.
