The High Court of Karnataka has ordered the Additional Secretary of Urban Development Department (UDD) to re-examine the matter with regard to construction of houses for the poor in Ejipura, south-central Bengaluru.
A division bench of Justices Jayant Patel and S Sujatha passed the order on Wednesday on a contempt petition filed by the EWS Residential Welfare Association.
The association contended that though there was a joint agreement between the BBMP and Maverick Holdings and Investments Pvt Ltd to build houses for the poor as well as a shopping mall at Ejipura in 2012, there had been no progress despite court orders.
The bench ordered the UDD additional secretary to hear the BBMP and the company about the liability to pay development charges though there is no specific reference in the agreement. The bench also directed him to examine the matter and take a decision in three months and file a report to the court by November 11, 2017.
The court had previously ordered the company to deposit 50% of the fee demanded by the BBMP for sanctioning the plan of the construction of 1,512 EWS (economically weaker section) quarters in Ejipura.
The BBMP demanded Rs 7 crore for sanctioning the plan and the bench directed Maverick to deposit 50% of the sum. Maverick also undertook that it would finish the project within 18 months of the plan being sanctioned. Accordingly, it made the payment and the plan was sanctioned.
The bench directed the BBMP and the developer to co-ordinate with regard to any changes in the sanctioned plan and not to hamper the construction of the quarters and the mall. It adjourned the hearing until November 14.
Published 19 July 2017, 20:24 IST