BMP taking action against owners for building violations

BMP taking action against owners for building violations

The Hindu

Report says 140 building owners have not obtained change in land use

# BMP statement in High Court says 169 buildings were inspected in Sadashivanagar and RMV Extension
# Steps taken to remove encroachments from footpaths in the two localities
# The BMP has sought time to complete the process as the tenants and owners have to reply to notices
# Action follows High Court direction on a public interest litigation petition by residents association

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on Monday said it was taking action against owners of buildings in Rajmahal Vilas (RMV) Extension and Sadashivanagar for having illegally changed land use.

In its statement of objection and status report filed in the Karnataka High Court, the BMP said it had inspected 169 buildings in Sadashivanagar and RMV Extension and a majority of them had been built in violation of land use norms.

The statement said the owners of 140 buildings had not legally obtained a change in land use. Though the buildings were categorised as residential, they had been converted for commercial use.

It said notices had been issued under Section 30 of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1976, to the owners and tenants of these buildings for illegal change in land use. Besides, steps had been taken to remove encroachments from footpaths in the two localities.

Saying that it had initiated proceedings against the violators, the BMP sought time to complete the process as the tenants and owners had to reply.

The BMP had taken up the inspection after a direction from the High Court, which, on January 24, 2006, admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by the Sadashivanagar Residents Association on the illegal change in land use.

The association had sought a direction to the authorities to survey the area for violation of building norms and illegal change in land use. It had furnished a list of 70 buildings, which, it claimed, had violated land use norms.

The association said the buildings in and around Sadashivanagar and RMV Extension were mainly meant for residential use but had been put to commercial use. Yet, the authorities, including the Government and the BMP, had not taken any action.

It said the association was formed mainly to promote orderly growth of Sadashivanagar, Rajmahal Vilas Extension, Upper Palace Orchards and the areas to the south of T. Chowdiah Road from Cauvery cinema traffic junction to Bashyam Circle.

However, there was an alarming commercial development though most of the area was reserved for residential purposes under the comprehensive development plan (CDP) of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

The provisions of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act were being blatantly violated. It said such violations had led to choking of road space, haphazard parking of vehicles, leading to hardship to residents.

The unchecked development had led to increase in traffic on arterial roads such as T. Chowdaiah Road, Bellary Road, C.V. Raman Road and areas around Mehkri Circle, resulting in air and noise pollution.

In its statement, the BMP said it had inspected the area soon after the petition was filed and conducted a preliminary survey. The survey, it said, included the 70 buildings mentioned by the association and it listed the buildings used for commercial, semi-public and public purposes.

In its 16-page status report, the BMP said it had found violations in 140 of the 169 buildings surveyed.

The report, supervised by the Assistant Executive Engineer, Hebbal sub-division, names the residential buildings being used for commercial purposes in Ward No 99 and the names of its owners and the date when the BMP issued a show cause notice to them.