Mad rush for property registration after lift of ban

Mad rush for property registration after lift of ban
The Times of India

Bangalore: In Yelahanka, Kengeri, KR Puram, Anekal, Bangalore North and South subregistrar offices, tokens are being issued two days in advance for property registrations. After a nine-month ban on registration of nonconverted properties on agricultural lands, there is a sudden rush to register properties after the high court quashed the ban last month.

The sub-registrar’s offices are once again abuzz with hectic activity, especially those in the rural areas around Bangalore. Reason: the peripheral areas are surrounded by agricultural lands which can now be registered without land conversion.

On April 23 last year, the revenue department had banned registration of properties on agricultural lands without conversion to streamline haphazard development of the city. However, on January 3, the high court quashed the ban terming it as ‘unconstitutional.’ Subsequently, the previous government decided to bring in an amendment either to the Registration Act of 1908 or to the Registration Rules of 1965 so that the notification can be given a legal tag and be made mandatory. The authorities had also proposed to introduce a Bill in the Legislative session. However, with the change in government, the issue is hanging without any clear directions.

“We have not issued any instructions to the sub-registrars to register properties. But as per the high court directions, registrations have begun. The pressure is more in the rural areas where people are in a hurry to register their properties before the new government takes a stand on it. But this time, people have become aware of the demerits of illegal transactions which is going to cost them dear in future,’’ officials in the stamps and registration department explained. Unable to cope with the pressure, the sub-registrars have started issuing tokens two to three days in advance for registrations. “Despite the pressure, we are closing the transactions by 5.30 pm as the computers do not register any document after the deadline,’’ officials added.

The revenue collected over the last few months is on the higher side.

The revision in guidance value came into effect from October 14 and the revision ranged between 40 and 110 per cent depending on the area. The revision has been steep in areas situated in the periphery of Bangalore as the real estate market here is at its peak.

BWSSB project soon

Bangalore: The BWSSB which has taken up the Greater Bangalore Water Supply and Sanitation Project for the urban local bodies around the city is expecting to commission the project by September.

The project was taken up at a total cost of Rs 802 crore to provide Cauvery water and UGD connections to 12 lakh people. Tenders for water supply feeder mains for the 8 ULBs would be received on March 6 and work would be completed by September. TNN

Revenue graph

l From April 2004 to January 2005, revenue collected Rs 1,000 crore.
l Till January 2006, Rs 1,100 crore mopped up.
l Dip in revenue to the tune of 25 per cent during May, June, July,August and September last year as the registration ban on some properties was in force. Revenue collected was Rs 560 crore.
l In the same months during 2004, it was Rs 630 crore.
l After October, revenue picked up due to revision in the guidance value of properties.
l In October, November, December and January, revenue has shot up by 12 per cent.