New controversy surfaces over Mysore mall project

While the controversy over the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project is raging in the state, another controversy is cropping up in Mysore over the jinxed Makkaji Chowk complex.

A few NGO heads on Tuesday announced a protest and filing of a public interest litigation against the Makkaji Chowk complex which has been cleared by the state cabinet.

The Rs 219 crore 3.40 lakh square feet commercial facility on 4.19 acres was cleared by the state government on April 20 and work on the shopping and entertainment mall is expected to be launched during the next few days, when chief minister Kumaraswamy visits the city to inaugurate the project work.

The project will be executed by the Maverick Holdings and Investment Pvt. Ltd., who has built the Garuda Mall in Bangalore on the build, own, operate and transfer(BOOT) basis.

Over a 40-year lease period, Maverick will be paying an annual rent of Rs 3.15 crore with a hike of three per cent to the Mysore City Corporation (MCC).

At a joint press conference, the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) and the Mysore Grahaka Parishat (MGP), apart from advocate S Arun Kumar charged that the MCC agreement with Maverick had no economic basis as "it will deprive the MCC huge sums of revenue."

Arun Kumar, who had filed a PIL after the MCC had endorsed the agreement with Maverick on September 30, 2005, charged that the state government had failed to consider his objection, filed as directed by the High Court, before clearing the project.

Explaining the project details and the revenue model proposed in the agreement, he alleged that the builder would be paying the MCC only Rs 225 crore in 40 years' time.

On the other hand, he would be earning Rs 1,200 crore if calculated on the basis of present land and rental value fixed by the sub-registrar. The builder would earn back his investment in around 10 months and would be making a huge profit of Rs 975 crore over the lease period.

"We oppose the developer who comes to Mysore in the pretext of developing but will be looting thousands of crores of rupees," the advocate said.

ACICM Convener M Lakshmana said, "We will protest when the chief minister comes for its inauguration. We will demand a retender of the project. Otherwise, we will file a PIL before the High Court or the Supreme Court," he and Arun Kumar announced.

MGP's Vombatkere complained that the planned mall would increase vehicle density in the heart of the city and will detract Mysore's heritage status, while Dr Bhami V Shenoy said they were not opposed to the mall, but the economic model of it should be reconsidered.

With the project getting the government seal, the MCC has taken up clearing the Makkaji Chowk land, forcibly evicting the taxi and mini lorry operators from there, who in turn have resorted to protests and halting of the 'operation eviction'.