BMP Council defers taking a decision on Garuda Mall

BMP Council defers taking a decision on Garuda Mall

The Hindu

Decision likely to be taken by administrator

# Decision on hiking rentals at Public Utility Building deferred
# Several projects on laying of concrete roads approved

Bangalore: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council on Monday deferred taking a decision on granting excess land to developers of Garuda Mall.

The Standing Committee on Town Planning and Development had recommended that the excess land of 3,456 sq ft be given to Maverick Holdings and Investments, developers of Garuda Mall.

At the start of the joint venture, developers of Garuda Mall were sanctioned 1,56,000 sq. ft. of land. An extra 3,456 sq. ft. of land had been acquired inadvertently. The project management group of the BMP decided that the land could be put to no other use and sanctioned the excess land to the developers. Permission from the BMP Council remained to be taken.

But developers of Garuda Mall started construction activity on this 3,456 sq. ft of land, without permission. After furore at a BMP Council meeting, Commissioner K. Jairaj asked Infrastructure Development of Karnataka (IDECK) to conduct a review of joint venture projects and the matter has ended there.

With the term of the current BMP Council set to end in November, a final decision on the Garuda Mall controversy would most probably be taken by an Administrator. The Administrator would be in-charge till the next Council is elected, about six months later.

Though there is no official confirmation, the next elections to the BMP Council will not take place till the process of the delimitation of wards and formation of Greater Bangalore is completed.

Low rentals will remain

The BMP Council also deferred taking a decision on hiking rentals at the Public Utility Building, also called Subash Chandra Bose commercial complex. Shop owners at the complex pay a measly rental of Rs. 7 per square feet. The revenue generated from the complex falls far short of the maintenance expenditure. The Standing Committee of Accounts and Finance, taking into consideration that other commercial complexes in the area paid eight to ten times more, had recommended that the rentals be hiked to 15 per cent of the existing fee.

Audit by CAG

Following dearth of finances at the BMP and the constant borrowing of money for development works, the State Government had decided to authorise the CAG to randomly scrutinise 10 per cent of BMP accounts.

The issue was dropped at the last BMP Council meeting after vociferous opposition by corporators. The issue was not even discussed this time around and promptly deferred.

Concrete roads

The council approved a host of projects regarding laying of concrete roads and restoring side drains and footpaths in more than 20 wards in the city.