Big companies violate building by law

Big companies violate building by law
Monday May 28 2007 09:10 IST

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BANGALORE: Big business, they are. Sadly, they happen to be the violators of building bylaw in the city.

The names are: Tobacco major ITC, owners of Coffee Day, and a company of R N Shetty group. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has admitted that these companies have taken up constructions sans the commencement certificate (CC). In fact, many of the constructions are in the final stages. This has prompted the joint director of town planning (JDTP) at BBMP S S Topagi, who appeared in a sombre mood, to remark that he might be called upon to issue both the commencement letter and occupancy certificate to them at one time!

A senior journalist had sought under Right To Information (RTI) Act, in September last, copies of commencement certificates and occupancy certificates issued by JDTP between January 2005 and September 2006. It took seven months for the Palike and a rap on its knuckle from the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) to produce result.

And the Palike had to admit that it was not seriously implementing the building by law. In March, the applicant shortlisted 27 ongoing constructions in the city and demanded documents on them. JDTP furnished the information in two instalments.

On April 28, he gave 10 CCs and on May 5, he furnished seven more. When asked about the remainder, Topagi said that it should be ‘understood as not issued’. But why cannot BBMP enforce its own building bylaw? ‘‘We work under tremendous political pressure,’’ he said.