GDA stops illegal construction at Indirapuram Habitat Centre

Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has stopped alleged illegal construction at Indirapuram Habitat Centre, a commercial hub here, and issued notice to it over non-payment of tax dues amounting to Rs 105 crore.

District Magistrate and GDA Vice-Chairperson Ritu Maheshwari paid a visit to the commercial hub on Saturday and found that some structures were being built illegally. She ordered officer on special duty DN Prashad to issue a notice of non-payment of dues and seal the construction site.

Maheshwari said that the authorities were asked in 2005 to pay compounding tax dues in instalments, but they failed to submit the third instalment due on May 24 this year.

"The third instalment including interest was more than Rs 100 crore," she added.

The general manager (operations) of Indirapuram Habitat Centre, Yudhveer Singh, said that the instalment amount was Rs 75 lakh only and that the GDA was charging an exorbitant interest rate on it, making it total Rs 105 crore.

"We have requested the state urban development department in Lucknow to reduce the rate of interest... As and when a final decision is taken by the department, the dues will be cleared," Singh said.