Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body once again agreed to extend the deadline for the completion of the much-delayed Danaganj Mall on Tuesday.
NMC’s public works department, while tabling a proposal to this effect, had cited the private contractor Orange City Mall Pvt Ltd’s assurance to complete the project by 2023-24.
This will be the third extension given to the firm.
Congress corporator Praful Gudadhe accused NMC of favouring Orange City Mall Pvt Ltd despite its failure to complete the construction of Danaganj Mall.
TOI had recently highlighted that the Danaganj Mall was first proposed in 2006, but there was no sign of its completion even in 2021.
Demanding termination of the contract of Orange City Mall, Gudadhe also accused NMC’s public works department of being hand in glove to favour the contractor by not levying any penalties mentioned in the agreement for instances of default.
The general body meeting also witnessed heated exchange between ruling party leader Avinash Thakre and Gudadhe when the latter said that the private firm is owned by Orange City Water Limited and hence the civic body was favouring the agency.
Gudadhe also alleged that the department had ignored the House while giving relaxations to the firm in the past.
Executive engineer Dilip Dupare could not give a satisfactory reply to Gudadhe’s queries.
Commissioner Radhakrishnan B said the delay occurred due to lapses on the civic body’s part for its inability to provide environmental clearance, removal of encroachments among others.
Gudadhe and leader of opposition Tanaji Wanve opposed the move to extend the deadline.
However, the ruling BJP ensured that the House approved PWD’s proposal.
Meanwhile, the mayor has called for a general body meeting on June 30 over adjournment motion tabled by independent corporator Abha Pande on irregularities by NMC’s health department in spending funds allocated to battle coronavirus.
The house also passed a resolution to declare neem tree as national tree and will now send a proposal to the central government in this regard.
In view of coronavirus pandemic, many property owners defaulted property tax due to poor financial condition.
Gudadhe demanded waiving off penal interest on property tax for the three financial years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22.
To his demand, mayor Tiwari said the commissioner has the authority to waive the penalty on property tax arrears.
He asked the commissioner to take a favourable decision on the penalty waiver and implementation of amnesty scheme for two months.
BJP corporator Vijay Zalke raised the issue of irregularities in NMC’s town planning department.
Mayor too expressed anguish over the working of the department and directed the civic chief to look into it.
Senior corporators Abha Pande, Vaishali Narnaware, Ibrahim Pathan raised the issue of dilapidated condition of NMC-run libraries and reading rooms.
Citing an example, Pande drew the attention of the house towards the Subhash Chandra Bose library situated Khairipura.
A couple of days ago, part of the ceiling of the library caved in.
Fortunately, there was no one at the library at that time since the incident occurred at midnight, she said.
Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari directed the civic administration to ensure that all libraries are maintained properly.
He said zonal funds have been made available for their maintenance and if required, more funds will be provided.