Commonwealth Games Village
Page 5
Fallout of ‘emergency’ situation
10. According to the Project Development Agreement signed on 14
th
September, 2007, DDA and
Emaar MGF were to share the residential apartments in the ratio of 1:2. This was effectively
changed to 1:0.63 with the decision to bail out the Project Developer through purchase of 333
apartments from Emaar MGF’s share of the apartments. It should be noted that the Project
Developer had asked for
321 crore as loan at normal rate of interest or purchase of 250
apartments. It was DDA’s decision to purchase 333 apartments.
11. The ‘Bailout package’
was premeditated, suggestive of the outcome preceding the process. DDA
formed a Valuation Committee which, in turn,
appointed two Independent Consultants to
determine fund requirement of Emaar MGF and the value of apartments (in March 2009) for arriving at the number of additional apartments to be purchased by DDA. A Negotiation
Committee,
which was set up with the approval of LG, was unable to reach a mutually acceptable
sale price with Emaar MGF. Emaar MGF, then addressed a letter to LG dated 22.04.2009 stating their readiness to accept a rate of
11,000 per sft which was endorsed with alacrity on 24.04.2009
at a meeting chaired by LG, attended by Secretary and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban
Development, Vice Chairman, DDA and Finance Member and Engineer Member, DDA. The locus
standii of this Group to take such an important decision is not known. It is surprising that such a
decision was not taken by the competent Authority: DDA. Such a major decision with large financial
implications, not being taken by the competent authority,
renders it suspect. It was referred to the
Authority only in June 2009 after the Bailout Agreement had been signed in May, 2009.
12. The Technical consultants, based on the project specifications, estimated the cost price of the
project at
934.49 crore (excluding the land cost). This estimation was later ignored. In the process
of finalizing a sale price, which was also agreeable to Emaar MGF, the sale price recommended by
the Financial Consultants was revised several times to finally accommodate 10% cost of capital and
15% Developer’s margin. It may be noted that as per industry norms, cost of capital is borne by the
Developer. In the calculations, the sub-contract price of 1168.21 crore was accepted at face value
even though no signed contract was shown to the Financial consultant.
13. A copy of the sub contract between Emaar MGF and M/s Ahluwalia Contracts (India) Ltd.,
which
was apparently not earlier available to the DDA,
was obtained and referred to a Consultant of the