BDA spotted violators 5 yrs ago, didn’t act

BDA spotted violators 5 yrs ago, didn’t act
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Though Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) noticed grave land-use violations almost five years ago, it chose not to act on it.

The BDA had identified buildings in Koramangala, Indiranagar and Jayanagar for violating land use pattern, building bylaws and its Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) in a survey conducted in 2001.

Officials, however, feigned ignorance about any such survey. According to the report, the authority had identified 132 buildings in Koramangala alone. Of these, 70 are either owned or rented to the information technology companies.

The violators included IT giants like Microland, Planetasia, Cyber Cash and Oracle Solutions.

A similar survey conducted in Indiranagar and Jayanagar revealed several such structures on residential plots without proper land conversion approvals. The BDA had even issued notices to violators, but no action was taken.

Notices were also slapped on companies who were tenants. “The tenant can also be sued for occupying the premises without checking the building plan and the occupancy certificate issued by the authorities,” sources in the government said.

The survey had exposed drawbacks in the system as none of the buildings have plans approved by competent authorities.

One IT firm had rented a building constructed on a notified area of the BDA, the report said.

“This amounts to encroachment and unauthorised construction on a BDA land,” sources maintained.

The survey has found that civic bodies like the KPTCL and BWSSB have provided power and water to the buildings in question without asking for an occupancy certificate issued by the BCC or the BDA commissioners.

The sources said under Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961, the area where these buildings have been built were meant for residential use and not for commercial activities.

After a request is made by the building owner to the Bangalore Development Authority, the BDA has to notify the change of land use in the media and call for objections from the public besides giving a report to the state.

If there is no objections, the government can sanction change of land use, they said. Violators include some of the leading public sector banks and a KPTCL office.

These are however expected to be regularised after inspection as they provide public services, officials said. The BDA is conducting a similar survey in Indiranagar and Jayanagar.