Violators beware, BDA is watching

Violators beware, BDA is watching
Target Areas: Indiranagar, Koramangala, Jayanagar, Banashankari
Times of India

Bangalore: The BDA has decided to come down heavily on violators of land use by either relocating the structure or demolishing it. In, in the first phase, it has identified buildings in 25 major streets of the city’s four areas — Koramangala, Indiranagar, Jayanagar I to IX blocks, and Banashankari II and III stages.

Sources told the Sunday Times of India that building deviations range from 50 per cent to 100 per cent. While plots were sanctioned originally for residential purposes, they have been utilised for commercial activities without change of land use approved by the authorities concerned, officials said.

Such residential plots now house commercial complexes, industries, nursing homes and IT firms, flouting the rules. The BDA recently sent a comprehensive report in this regard to the government, recommending stringent action. The BDA has argued against regularisation of these buildings as the government had earlier proposed regularisation of unauthorised buildings in the city with a cutoff date by collecting one-time penalty.

“Regularisation will provide an easy escape route for building violators who will be more than willing to pay fine and legalise the crime,’’ officials said. The report follows the BDA’s move of three years ago when it had identified IT firms in Koramangala and Indiranagar functioning out of residential premises in contravention of the land use rules. The residents had complained about the nuisance caused by these firms — traffic jam and noise pollution, among others.

Former BDA commissioner Jayakar Jerome had identified over 400 such establishments in Koramangala and Indiranagar and had issued show-cause notices. Some of these IT companies had initially got the building plan sanctioned for a house but later used the premises for commercial purposes.
Even now, not all IT firms have shifted out of residential premises. Koramangala and Indiranagar still have IT firms functioning out of resident i a l p re m - ises. In Jayanagar and Banashankari, shops, commercial complexes and small industrial units have come up on residential plots.

“A majority of violators are commercial complexes. Despite protests by re s i d e n t s, the authorities have not been able to act H.S. Murali as the bu i l d i n g ow n e r s pull the strings and escape the noose. Now, such establishments will be targeted,’’ officials added.
One school of thought is that since the buildings are very much in existence, demolishing them would mean huge financial losses for all, including the government. “Therefore, the BDA has suggested relocation of commercial activities.

While IT firms and industrial units can relocate to plots identified by the government, neighbourhood shops can function from commercial building premises,’’ sources in the authority said. However, the BDA feels demolition of at least a few buildings would send a clear message to violators not to mess around with rules.

BCC razes second floor of building

The BCC on Saturday demolished an illegal portion of a building on CMH Road. The second floor of the building was unauthorisedly constructed by one Krishnan. The BCC had only given sanction for constructing the ground and first floors.