New Delhi: AAP councillors raised the issue of sub-leasing of shops at Omaxe Mall in Chandni Chowk without MCD’s proper approvals during a standing committee meeting Thursday, stating that the civic body may lose its land forever if timely action is not taken.
Councillors said the plot was given to a concessionaire on a 99-year lease. AAP councillor and standing committee member Praveen Kumar alleged that the executive wing of Municipal Corporation of Delhi allowed the concessionaire to sub-lease shops without following the mandated approval process under Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and 10 out of 850 shops had already been sub-leased.
Civic officials said the lease deed allowed the concessionaire to sub-lease the shops. “The sub-leasing of shops and issuing licences will generate a revenue of Rs 30 crore for MCD,” said an official. Even if the agreement allows sub-leasing, the approval is mandatory, he claimed.
The Omaxe media team said later that the provision for lease and sub-lease of shops was included in the request for proposal and bid documents governing the PPP project, and the concessionaire had acted accordingly.