BUSINESSMAN Rameshchandra Gorasia will demolish his multimillion-shilling Taj Mall in Embakasi and surrender part of the land on a road reserve to the government only after a court order and if the government compensates him.
Gorasia yesterday said he legally acquired the property and will not let it go without compensation.
“I bought this land genuinely. There is no fraud here and the commission is aware of that. If they want this land, they should go to court and obtain [an] order so I can be compensated,” he said.
The National Land Commission last Friday published in a gazette notice that part of the 3.75 acres on which the mall stands will be carved out to make room for the expansion of the Outer Ring Road.
The notice also affects three petrol stations and 74 other buildings on Fedha and Tassia estates whose owners have been asked to surrender the title deeds to facilitate a revision of their status.
But Gorasia said the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, the implementing agency, had told him it no longer needs the plot and assured him of the building’s safety.
“I have a letter from Kura saying they don’t need the land and I don’t know what the commission is up to,” he told the Star on the phone.
NLC had, in a letter to Gorasia dated September 30 last year, revoked the title of part of the land on which the mall stands.
NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri had said the government compulsorily acquired the land in the 1960s for the expansion of North Airport and Outer Ring roads.
But Gorasia said he acquired 1.75 acres in 1991 and another two acres in 1995, both from Abuja Ltd, then joined the two parcels.
The Lands ministry, however, suspended the revocation of the title.
In a letter dated October 10 last year, chief lands registrar FK Orioki told Swazuri the title can only be revoked by a court order.