UT gets into defensive mode,contradicts MHA report

The UT officials said it was incorrect on the part of the auditors to say that no proper feasibility study was conducted before allotting spaces to companies at the IT park. “In fact,Joines Lang Lasalle (JLL) carried out the feasibility study for the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park and the report of JLL was the cornerstone for the structure of the project,types of sites,valuation of land,methodology of allotment and the layout plan. The promoter and facilitator of the RGCTP was and continues to be the Chandigarh Administration. The land for Phase I and Phase II of RGCTP measuring about 300 acres in all was readily available with the Administration. Basic infrastructure was developed by the Administration from its own budget while investment on the actual sites within the RGCTP was carried out by the allottee companies. The JLL report suggested four types of sites for RGCTP,which were campus sites,small campus sites,built to suit sites and common facilities.”

Elaborating its justification further,the administration officials added,“A total of 10,000 professionals are working at RGCTP. Investment worth Rs 600 crore has already been made by companies and the annual software exports touched Rs 618 crore during 2008-2009. About 30,000 indirect jobs have been created as a result of the setting up of RGCTP. Also,by the year 2011,the figures are likely to increase. More than 25,000 professionals are likely to be working at RGCTP by 2011 with an investment of about Rs 1000 crore; an annual export touching around Rs 1500 crore and the indirect jobs crossing 75,000 mark.”

Contradicting the audit report on space allotted to DLF,the officials added,“Running of a shopping mall with related facilities is surely a public purpose activity as 10,000 professionals in the high-income group need such space for retail and recreation after office hours. In any case,20 per cent of the area had been allowed to DLF for non-IT activities and the type of activity being carried out is commensurate with this permission. It is relevant to point out that in all major projects in neighbouring states also such non-IT space is allowed in such developments.”

As regards the issue of not getting clearance from the Ministry of Forest and Environment,as mentioned in the audit report; the Administration clarified that the clearance from the Ministry was duly obtained and the RGCTP stands cleared from the environment angle.

Also,Tech Mahindra Limited,software major of the Mahindra and Mahindra Group,while contradicting the audit report,added,“Our group approached the UT Administration in May,2005 for allotment of 15 acres of land at IT park. In fact,Tech Mahindra’s request of May,2005 was followed by visit of Vineet Nayyar,Managing Director of Tech Mahindra to Chandigarh for detailed discussions regarding allotment of land at the IT park.”