BCC's Koramangala survey finds gross violation of building laws by IT firms

87 buildings violated bylaws
BCC’s Koramangala Survey Finds 99% Of Them Are IT Firms
The Times of India

Bangalore: Abiding by the high court order to conducting a survey of building bylaw violations in Koramangala, the Bangalore City Corporation has found that 99 per cent of them are IT firms functioning without required sanctions.
The BCC has constituted a team comprising ward engineers, assistant executive engineer (Koramangala) and executive engineer (Shantinagar) to conduct the survey of the 87 buildings cited in the writ petition filed by area residents.

According to the engineers, these 87 buildings are spread over Koramangala I to 8 blocks and the original land use sanctioned was for residential purpose. Even the plan for a residential building was approved after which the premises were converted into light industries. The engineers who have already completed the inspection have found that 99 per cent of them are being used as IT firms some of which are even functioning from the garages.

“They are buildings with ground, first and second floors completely occupied by software companies. These buildings have all been constructed prior to 2000 in the residential zone. Hence, the plan sanctions for residential buildings were approved by BCC as Koramangala was transferred to the corporation jurisdiction in 1986,’’ engineers explained.

BCC will now ask the building owners to submit their building plans, change of land use approvals if any and property documents to verify the papers. As directed by the court which has permitted the petitioners to participate in the survey, the engineers will send letters inviting them to join them.

On June 23, taking note of a petition filed by some residents of Koramangala regarding largescale building bylaw violations, the high court had directed BCC and BDA commissioners to conduct a survey and submit the findings within six weeks. The petitioners had complained that their “quality of life has been affected due to indiscriminate change of land use, encroachment of pavements by parking.’’

The once-peaceful residential locality of Koramangala has been transformed into a commercial hub with mushrooming of IT companies.
What BDA did
After receiving several complaints, in 2000, BDA identified 75 buildings where residential zone had been converted into commercial without permission. Former BDA commissioner Jayakar Jerome issued show-cause notices to owners of these buildings. Recommended to government to initiate action. Last year, BDA identified 25 streets in major areas where change of land use was flouted. It recommended to government to decide on either relocating the premises or demolishing them.