Habitat Centre Mall in Gzb sealed

Ghaziabad: Initiating strict action against the defaulters, the Ghaziabad district administration and the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) on Wednesday sealed the Habitat Center Mall at Indirapuram over non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 49 crore, an official said.

According to a senior GDA official, the authority had issued several notices to the mall authority for the payment of the outstanding of Rs 49 crore. But, the Habitat Center did not pay any heed to the notices. A part of the Habitat Center Mall was already sealed earlier because of the dispute, said the official.

On Wednesday, a team of GDA officials along with senior administrative officials raided the mall in the early hours and sealed the premises.

"The authority had given the land to the mall authority for payment in instalments. However, the repayment of these instalments was continuously delayed. As the instalments of the outstanding amount get paid, the sealed property will be reopened," said Hiralal Singh, executive engineer, GDA.

Ritu Maheshwari, District Magistrate, Ghaziabad and Vice-chairperson GDA, said "The construction in Habitat Center was completely different from the map. In addition, compounding was also done incorrectly. There was a pending stamp duty of Rs 50 crore on the Habitat Center, due to which it has been sealed."

There are more than 100 showrooms and shops in the Habitat Center. Due to sealing showrooms and shops were forced to shut. Showroom owners alleged that the due to the fight between the GDA and the management of the mall over non-payment, they are the one who has to suffer.