BMP defends its action

BMP defends its action
The Hindu

# BMP's stand Buildings identified had commercial establishments
# Payment of taxes does not mean entitlement to any benefits

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has justified its decision in taking action against those persons violating the building norms and those who have made illegal change in land use at Sadashivanagar.

In its statement of objections filed on Wednesday to several petitions by residents of Sadashivanagar challenging its action in issuing notices to them and asking them to either close down or set right the violations, the BMP said it had carried out a survey of the area following a direction from the High Court.

Several residents of Sadashivanagar had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the BMP to survey the area and take action against those who had violated the norms.

The BMP said it had identified scores of buildings, which had violated the norms by converting residential area into commercial. It said such violators had not obtained permission for change in land use as planned under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act. It said it had initiated action against the violators under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, saying that the violations had resulted in parking problems, caused pollution, led to choking of roads and haphazard parking of vehicles.

It said after the BDA surveyed the area, the BMP undertook a survey and identified buildings, which had violated the norms. It said notices were issued to violators under Section 308 of the Act asking why action should not be taken against them. It said collection of tax from such violators would not entitle them for any benefit of change in the land use without obtaining permission from the BDA.