BCC to crack down on software firms in residential areas

BCC to crack down on software firms in residential areas
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Friday’s High Court directive ordering the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) to conduct a survey in Koramangala to check for zonal violations, has got the civic body on its toes. It now plans to come down heavily on businesses set up in residential areas across the city. The worst hit would be software firms operating in residential localities, as the BCC will soon seal their premises and force them to shut shop.

The lack of punitive provisions in the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act (KMC) have constrained the civic body from taking any action. But, the Court order has come as a blessing in disguise with BCC Commissioner K Jothiramalingam upping the ante in order to bring the violators to book.

‘‘Though Section 505 of the KMC Act says the BCC should implement zoning rules set up by the planning authority, it does not say anything about the punitive action which should be taken against violators. So far we have been issuing notices to software companies to pay property tax at non-residential rates, but we could do nothing further,’’ Jothiramalingam said.

The BCC had recently issued notices to over 2000 violators of building bye-laws and revenue officials had been asked to take up door to door surveys of properties in order to identify violators, he said.

Though the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act permits 31 businesses in residential areas, BCC’s building bye-laws have an additional list of over 35 businesses that can be permitted.

However, the software business, a major commercial activity, is not among the business activities allowed in residential areas.

Jothiramalingam adds that all such businesses will be issued notices to shut shop. ‘‘A business house which does not honour the notice will be sealed,’’ he said.