Yet another government panel indicts realtor Ansal API
LUCKNOW: Ansal API, the developer of Sushant Golf City, the state capital’s only hi-tech township has been indicted for gross irregularities and violating norms for providing houses to the underprivileged and economically weaker sections, by yet another government probe panel, in its report to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The scathing indictment by a four-member team headed by Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) vice chairperson Saumya Aggarwal comes close on the heels of similar findings made by a lawmakers’ panel, which visited the township on June 23 to verify complaints received against the developer from a large number of home buyers. HT has access to the probe panel report.
“Forget not building the required number of EWS and LIG houses as mandated in the license agreement, the developer has sold land earmarked for green belt, stadium, sewage treatment plant and even property mortgaged by it to Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) without informing or obtaining the latter’s consent,” says a state government official.
Numerous phone calls and text messages to Ansal API representatives in Lucknow and email sent by to its chairman to get their version, remained unanswered.
On August 25, 2017, the UP government had set up an inquiry panel under the KDA VC to probe charges against the township when it was bombarded by complaints from a large number of home-buyers and allottees.
The charges included not building the mandatory 10% units each (16,390 EWS +16,390 LIG = total 32,780 houses) for the lower income and economically weaker sections, changing the land use and selling stretches in the township meant for development of community services like stadium, STP and green belt and land already mortgaged/ pledged to LDA by way of performance guarantee.
The report has accused the developer of not providing all relevant information and documents during the probe despite repeated reminders.
Against the required 32,780 houses, the developer has so far built only 3,168 houses (1,472 EWS and 1,696 LIG dwelling units). But even the ready houses do not have a proper approach road and appropriate civic amenities because of which those living in them are facing problems, says the report.
To ensure timely completion of the project, the developer as per the provisions of the agreement with the government, was required to mortgage 25% of the total saleable land in favour of LDA through a registered deed by paying requisite stamp duty on it.
This land was to be released by the development regulator (LDA in this case) after successful completion of various services, compliance of all conditions, transfer of properties in favour of allottees.
“If the realtor leaves any development work incomplete, the same was to be completed by the LDA with the funds received from the sale of 20 per cent of this mortgaged land. The remaining five% of this land was to be kept aside as performance guarantee to ensure the maintenance of services in the township,” points out a member of the probe panel.
Consequently, Ansal API mortgaged 311.66 acres of land to LDA against the four development agreement for 3530 acres of the township.
“Of this, 129.729 acres of land has been sold by the developer without obtaining permission of the LDA,” the report points out, which surprisingly is silent on the role of the LDA officials including its successive vice chairmen, who did nothing to rein in the erring realtor.
Armed with fresh report and findings, the lawmakers’ panel is all set to conduct a hearing into the charges against the developer on July 2.
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The developer has sold land earmarked for green belt, stadium, sewage treatment plant and even property mortgaged by it to LDA without informing or obtaining the latter’s consent.
A state government official