Sajidah Yousuf
Srinagar, Apr 20: Even after passing of nine years, barring a few, no business and establishment owner at Sangarmall complex have a lease agreement—contrary to that the space holders owe a whopping amount of more than Rs 15 crores to the Government on the account of total outstanding premium and interest against them.
According to the official documents available, a premium of the total amount of Rs eleven crores and forty-five lakhs (Rs 11,45,99,542) were generated by the government on the account of goodwill (Nazrana), rent, license fees received from Sangarmall Complex from the date of its inauguration till 31-12-2018.
Similarly, an amount of Rs 37,88,970 was also generated from the rent charges till 31-12-2018.
In May-2019, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) in a reply to the queries of the RTI applicant regarding the details of individuals, business, and establishments with whom the lease agreement was executed and registered so far, the PIO has stated “None”.
However, the officials of SDA said that since 2019, a few persons have paid all the premium and pending rent of their establishments.
“Some 2-3 persons paid the full premium amount and are now legally lease holders of the space,” the official said.
“However most of the space holders of the complex are yet to pay full premium amount,” he said.
SDA officials also said that the lease agreement for the shop in the Sangarmall complex remains valid for twenty years.
According to the RTI reply, the statement showing the list of defaulters with total outstanding Premium interest as on 31-05-2018 was Rs 15.49 crores (Rs 154,979,987.
Apart from the outstanding premium, space holders even owe Lakh’s of Rupees on the account of the monthly rent to their spaces and shops.
The PIO has stated that in the complex, 23 business houses and establishments are the major defaulters in payment of rent and goodwill.
The official documents further state that the space in Sangarmall Complex has been allotted to different 125 individuals and establishments.
