Patna, May 3: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has formed a five-member committee to investigate alleged irregularities by Niagree Builders in the construction of Pandey Mall where Vishal Mega Mart has been running for the past six years on the first three floors of a building on Frazer Road.

The committee has been formed following a Patna High Court directive last week to look into the deviation in the sanctioned construction plan.

Sources in the civic agency said that in May 2006, PMC had first issued the notice to the builders saying that part of Mega Mart, two shops flanking the outlet were illegally constructed and will be demolished. According to the map approved by the PMC, the first two floors of the building were meant for commercial purpose. However, no construction apart from the parking lot was allowed on the lower ground.

“The builders not only opened Vishal Mega Mart on two floors, they also carried out construction of two shops flanking the main outlet spread in 120sqm each, which was gross violation of the approved map. The sanctioned plan had clearly mentioned two shops should have been at level 2 and not 1,” said Vijay Kumar, director, urban planning wing of the PMC. The deviation prompted the corporation to issue a notice to the builder and it also threatened to demolish the structure.

He added: “However, the builders approached the high court and got a stay on the demolition later that year. Since then, the case has been running in the court.” He also said in 2007, then PMC commissioner Rana Awadesh ordered the closure of the outlet after another enquiry carried out in the case confirmed the violation. A few months later, the shopping outlet was opened when the court directed so.

Officials said during the past five years, the court has asked the corporation to carry out investigations into the deviations many times and every time violations have been confirmed.

“Last week, the court directed us to form a technical committee to carry out further enquiry into charges of deviation and we have formed a five-member committee which includes chief engineer and four executive engineers. They will submit the latest findings to the court within the next two weeks,” said Kumar.

The official also said that the departmental store would be demolished if the court gave a go-ahead regarding the action following the investigations being carried out by senior engineers.

Project manager of the store Lal Babu said it was builder who was responsible for the issue and the store had nothing to do with it. Builder Amar Pandey, meanwhile, could not be available for comments despite repeated attempts.