Bhubaneswar: Top officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Tuesday decided to seal the Panchadeep Market for violating the agreement with the civic body.
The corporation has also directed the Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) and the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) to disconnect water and electricity to the market building.
Earlier, the corporation had asked the director of Panchadeep Constructions Limited July 21 to furnish an explanation on the inordinate delay in their PPP project at Unit IV Market. The civic body also warned the director that stern action would be taken if the firm does not keeps its promise.
Interestingly, this market-cum-complex in Unit-IV, which started in 1999, was expected to finish by 2003, but has not opened for use by the public. While other PPP projects like the BMC-Bhawani Mall and BMC-Keshari Mall have become operational after coming to public attention much later than the Panchadeep Market Complex, the inordinate delay by Panchadeep Constructions Limited has angered civic authorities.
After 14 years of delay, the corporation has taken the issue seriously when it came to know that Panchadeep Constructions Limited was selling units of the project without getting occupancy certificate from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). The corporation immediately issued a notice to the public requesting not to purchase any shop in the complex as the construction company had not obtained occupancy certificate from the BDA which is mandatory.
Ending the suspense, the corporation Tuesday instructed the Zonal Deputy Commissioner of South East Zone of BMC to seal the entire market complex and to display a notice to stop anyone entering the complex.
The corporation’s letter states that as per the agreement, the developer is required to obtain statutory approvals and clearances before putting the premises to use. But it is seen that he started using the premises without obtaining statutory approvals like the occupancy certificate from BDA. The letter says “occupation of the building is completely unauthorised”.
As per the agreement Panchadip Market Complex has a built-up area of 16,584 sq metre (1,78,508.69 sq.feet) and 5,019 sq.metre (54024.07 sq.feet) parking area. According to the agreement, the BMC’s share is 72 per cent on the ground floor, 36 per cent on the first floor and 30.6 per cent in the second floor and subsequent floors. Top sources informed Orissa POST that the corporation would consider an inquiry on this issue. “We would also consider an inquiry on why action was not taken regarding this for a long time,” said a top official of BMC requesting anonymity.
PNN
