CHANDIGARH, January 15: Controversy has overtaken a luxury car showroom which opened in the Industrial Area here yesterday. The showroom, at Number 6, Industrial Area, Phase I, stands on a nine-kanal plot valued at several crores which is owned by the Chandigarh Cooperative Cold Store Limited.On seeing press advertisements of the showroom inauguration, K.K. Khandelwal, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Registrar Cooperative Societies, initiated action against the cooperative society management for violation of building bylaws as well as the Cooperative Act and Rules. Another show cause notice was issued to the management as to why it should not be removed and an administrator be appointed.
Efforts to contact the cooperative society management did not succeed.In December 1996, the then Joint Registrar Cooperative Societies, Parshant Goyal, issued a show cause notice and ordered liquidation of the cold store. A liquidator was subsequently appointed. The man who succeeded Goyal in the Joint Registrar's post reversed
the orders on ex-parte basis when none appeared on behalf of the department.
Sources in the department argue that only the Secretary, Cooperation, was competent to reverse the previous order. However, the administration is learnt to have ignored the matter.
The Chandigarh Cooperative Cold Store Limited was registered by 22 persons in the early `70s; the aim of the society was stated to be helping farmers by storing their perishable produce. Land was allotted to the society at concessional rate under rules governing the cooperative sector.
Although the cold store ceased to function some 15 years ago and cattle were reared on the plot, officials took no notice of the defunct store and misuse of the premises. As per rules, the plot could have been resumed immediately.
Meanwhile, the car showroom was inaugurated yesterday by H. Yamada, manager of Asia and Oceania Automobile Division, Honda Motor Company, Japan and Y. Nakamura, director marketing, Honda Siel Cars. The local dealership has been given to the
multinational firm of Lally Motors Ltd. It is the first Honda Exclusive Authorised Dealership in India and with this opening, three Honda City models went on sale in the country. The 1.3 litre (90 BHP) LXi Honda City is priced at about Rs 5.62 lakh, and the 1.3 EXi at about Rs 6.1 lakh.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
