Can you believe the BMP: No Mercy For Builders Violating By-Laws In Koramangala

BCC CRACKS THE WHIP
No Mercy For Builders Violating By-Laws In Koramangala
The Times of India

Finally, there is some action. The HC has set the ball rolling for Koramangala, where builders are violating by-laws and land-use norms freely. It now appears that they have merely been making good use of some glaring loopholes. Will the HC order transform it into a cleaner, quieter residential layout?

The cat had to be belled some time, and a beginning was made with Koramangala. After the high court ruling on Friday directing the BCC to come down on commercial buildings in residential areas constructed without change of land use approval, the corporation has adopted a stringent stance.

This is what BCC commissioner K Jothiramalingam had to say: “We will lock up the premises which have defied land use, violated zonal regulations and are using the buildings for commercial purpose.’’

This will extend to beyond the 87 buildings against which a PIL had been filed by some residents of Koramangala in April. Following court orders, the BCC had conducted a comprehensive survey of the specified buildings, and found that 99 per cent of them had violated land use and zonal regulations.

In response to Friday’s order, the BCC will issue provisional and confirmatory orders to erring building owners, asking them to rectify the violations. In case of non-compliance, the final step will be to raze portions found to be violative, within a fortnight.

The BCC has often been in a dicey situation: no sooner does it issue a notice identifying violations, the building owner gets a stay order from court. Probably recognising this hitch, the court has also given the BCC the go-ahead to file a caveat in the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal, contesting a case where the building owner attempts to get a stay order.

Engineers say many a time in Koramangala, building owners have pre-empted action by the BCC by getting stay orders. “Under provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, around 25 kinds of businesses are permitted in residential areas — doctor’s clinics, beauty parlours, ice-cream vendors, groceries, among others. Those permitted under the by-law will not attract stringent measures,’’ Jothiramalingam said.

So what happens to established offices and those trying to regularise their unauthorised structures? “No matter which office it is, we will lock up the business,’’ reiterates the commissioner. Violations include disobeying plan sanctions, setback area violations, zoning regulations, plinth area irregularities, conversion of residential building into commercial one.

It’s now time to pack up

Enter one of the bylanes of Koramangala III Block and you’ll feel this is the place to be. Amble down for another five minutes and you will surely change your mind.

The area has seen a sudden mushrooming of companies, boutiques, software complexes and packaging units that are incessantly gnawing away at this residential area’s oxygen mask. “It is not that I am getting more ‘commercialised’ but also that I am quietly dying.There is no zoning; you get up one day and see a pile of cars outside your home and wonder what happened next door.Then you realise a company has come up,’’ said Rita Goel.

It is not just in the Goels’ neighbourhood. Ditto with the Ramachandrans, the Radhakrishnans, the Kashyaps and almost all those living in that vicinity. While all these residents paid a premium price for a site in this calm and posh area, today most sleep with earplugs firmly in place.

Tantra Syntax, July Systems, Panasonic battery dealers, Nilgiri’s packaging unit, Les Concierges, R&M Associates, Quasar Technologies, Tedmag have set up base and many more are coming in. All these offices are masked by the housy-look, and are the major causes of noise, pollution and the “ugliness’’ breeding in Koramangala. These companies are playing havoc with the roads. Because there is not enough parking space, vehicles are lined up on the already narrow roads. Ask residents: “Why aren’t we asked whether we want some commercial set-up next door? Look at the noise, the pollution.We are planning to move out from this place. We know that is what the civic authorities want; they want to set up shops everywhere,’’ said Dr Leela. Companies say they have converted the land records and everything “is legal’’.