Citizens strike back: HC directs BDA, BCC to survey Koramangala violations

HC sets work for BCC, BDA chiefs
Wants Survey of Koramangala, Report On Building Violations
The Times of India

Bangalore: Murmurs about largescale building by-law violations in Koramangala found concrete form when eminent citizens of the area moved the Karnataka High Court.

In response to their writ petition, the high court on Thursday directed the BCC and the BDA commissioners to conduct a survey of Koramangala Layout and submit an affidavit based on their findings.

A division Bench of Chief Justice N.K. Sodhi and Justice B.S. Patil has directed the BCC commissioner to file a report in six weeks on the violations in the area.

The high court has asked the BCC commissioner to identify buildings which have violated building plan, building by-laws, and identify buildings where change of land use from residential to commercial has been effected.

It has also asked the BCC and BDA to enforce the Karnataka Municipal Act and the Town and Country Planning Act.
The main petition lists a few properties, and the annexure lists names of 87 properties where violation has taken place. The petitioners have urged the BCC and BDA commissioners to survey the properties on whether these buildings had violated zoning regulations.

They complained that their quality of life has been affected due to indiscriminate change of land use. They alleged that the allottees were changing land use without sanctions and BDA was not checking these violations despite complaints and representations.

Indiscriminate parking was another problem mentioned. They alleged that in many cases, public property had been encroached upon — footpaths used for parking.

The court has permitted the petitioners to participate in the surveys to be conducted.
The eminent citizens who filed the petition are Vijayan Menon, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Dr Radhakrishnan, Pramod Kapoor, Suresh Patil, Dayanidhi, Dilip Panickar and Vishwanath Kashyap, residents of Koramangala.

Do this...
BCC chief should identify buildings violating norms.
To file report in six weeks.
BDA, BCC must enforce Karnataka Municipal Act, Town and Country Planning Act.
Petitioners can participate in surveys.