Promoters of Garuda Mall reject charges

Promoters of Garuda Mall reject charges
The Hindu

`The construction has been as per law'

Bangalore: The promoters of Garuda Mall on Saturday rejected charges of irregularities in construction and maintained that the construction had been carried out according to the law.

B.G. Uday, director of Maverick Hoardings and Investments, said that after the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) served the company a notice on July 28, they had submitted a modified plan for the sewage treatment plant and parking complex coming up on the additional 3,456 sq ft. of land. On why they had started the construction when the BMP Council had not approved the grant of extra land, Mr. Uday said they had done it in "good faith."

On the commercial enterprises that have come up in areas meant for parking on third and fifth floors, Mr. Uday said he had not applied for the full occupancy certificate and was still functioning on a partial occupancy certificate, which enabled him to run the enterprises. Under building bylaws, up to 5 per cent of deviation from the original building plan was allowed and during the construction, only 3.85 per cent of deviation had occurred, he said. Deviations arising out of the restaurants would be incorporated within the remaining 1.15 per cent, he said.

Mr. Uday said it had been alleged that the company had evaded stamp tax, but since Garuda Mall was a joint venture with the BMP, they were eligible for exemption of stamp duty.