Early Times Newspaper Jammu
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Palm Island Mall in soup
No salary for security staff; Cess over Rs 3.20cr not paid
Early Times Report

Jammu, Jan 17: Palm Island Mall is facing deep financial blues as the vendors and the private security personnel deployed in the mall have not been paid their dues for long.
According to sources, presently power in the mall is being supplied through diesel generators, as the mall doesn't have electricity connection. Surprisingly, company (Ridhi Sidhi Infraprojects and Adarsh Build Estates Ltd) manning the mall has not paid dues of the vendors from where, diesel is being purchased.
Atleast, 33 security personnel, from a private security agency deployed there are without salary for last three months. "Our salaries since November have not been paid to us", said and agitating security personnel.
They further said that the company has not paid to vendor (pump), from where it is getting regular supply of diesel. "The amount has summed up to around Rs 40 lacs", said an insider, adding that the company has built the mall in violation of building rules.
The company had fooled Jammuites by opening the Mall without washrooms in Ground Floor. "They had converted the washrooms into shops for money", they said and added that the height of Food court is less than eight feet which is a big safety hazard in case of fire or any other emergency.
They further said that the Jammu and Kashmir Labour Department has served recovery notice to Ridhi Sidhi Infraprojects and Adarsh Build Estates Ltd for allegedly evading Labour Cess to the tune over 3 crores.
J&K Labour Commissioner J&K Government Grievance Cell has served recovery notice amounting Rs 3.20 crores to builders. "As per report received from ALC Jammu, the total Cess deposited by the Royal Palm and Palm Island is Rs. 9,72,000/- and 4,36,000/- respectively", the Labour Commissioner informed the Cell.
He further said that despite being put to repeated notices, M/s Sidhi Infra projects Pvt.Ltd did not come forward to furnish information in Form-I for depositing Cess, neither informed the assessing officer about stoppage of work in Form-II. Finally the Deputy Commissioner (Collector) was requested vide letter No.ALC/J/2018/1080-84 and ALC/J/2018/1085-88 dated 10-12-2018 to initiate recovery proceedings of Rs.2 Crores of Royal Palms and Rs.1.20 Crores of Palm Island against the above said employer for recovering the above amounts as an arrear of land revenue as provided under BOCW Cess Act (RE&CS) 1996.