'No exemption in regularisation fee'

'No exemption in regularisation fee'
DH News Service, Bangalore:
In just one hour, Vasanth Rao, BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Resources) received 35 telephone calls on Sakrama scheme! This only shows that Bangaloreans have several doubts regarding the building regularisation scheme.

It also speaks volumes on the communication gap between the citizens and BBMP, which is the implementing agency.

The time fixed for calling Rao over Deccan Herald office phone was between 11 am and 12 noon on Saturday. The calls started coming in on Friday itself and the phone did not stop ringing till 3 pm on Saturday.
Questions ranged from - where to get the application forms from to what are the benefits of regularisation scheme. Rao gave a patient hearing and responded to the callers. He was assisted by S S Topagi, BBMP Joint Director (Town Planning).

Excerpts of the telephonic conversation between Rao and the callers:

Krishnamurthy, Papareddipalya
Question: I own a house as per the plan sanctioned by a village panchayat. I have paid the development charges. Now it is part of BBMP. Do I need to regularise my house under Sakrama?

V Rao: Yes. Village Panchayat is not authorised to give building plans. Paying betterment charges and regularisation are different. You pay betterment charges to the local body, whereas regularisation fee goes to the government. You have to get your site as well as the house regularised.

Raghavendra, Yeshwanthpura
I have a ground plus three floor residential building constructed as per the sanctioned plan. I want to know what is the allowed total setback?

V Rao: You need not apply for regularisation if the building is as per the approved plan. However, the allowed setback depends on the zone where your property is and the width of the road facing the property. Contact a nearby structural engineer to get the details.

Narayan, Rajajinagar
BDA had notified my property for acquisition in 1984. I filed a suit opposing the acquisition. The Supreme Court has directed me to file a writ petition. Right now the case is pending in the Karnataka High Court. Can I apply for regularisation of my property?

V Rao: You can apply for regularisation along with a copy of your writ petition. If you wait till the court’s order is announced you may miss the chance to regularise. However, we will reserve our decision on regularisation till the Court gives its judgement.

Ranganath, Shankarapura
I own a property registered in Sulikere gram panchayat. Now it is part of BBMP. I don’t know where to get the application form from for regularisation and get my doubts clarified.

V Rao: You can contact joint commissioner of Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone. Moreover applications for Sakrama are available in all post offices and BangaloreOne centres.

Manjunath, Mysore Road
There are many issues which are difficult to understand in Sakrama scheme. Even the text in the booklet is not easy to follow. Will you extend the period to submit applications?

V Rao: The booklet is user-friendly and can be understood by a common man. If you have any queries you can contact help desks at zonal offices. We cannot extend the deadline as the law is not permitting it. It is a policy decision of the government.

Ravishankar, Jayanagar
I have 30x40 ft site in Horamavu. The property was DC converted in 1987. Do I need to pay conversion cha rges once again while regularising it?

V Rao: If you have got your property converted, you need not pay conversion charges once again.

Col Jacob, Mahadevapura
I own on a house built in a layout which is not approved by BDA. I am ready to get my site regularised. Whereas my neighbours are not. What I should do?

V Rao: You need not wait for others to join you. You can file an application individually and get your property regularised. Moreover, we can’t force an unwilling horse to drink water.

Nilesh, Chikpet
I live in an apartment complex with deviations. How do I regularise the deviations?

V Rao: Residents of the apartment have to approach for regularisation through association. You need to form an association and register it under the Societies Act.

Anupama, HRBR layout
I have built a garage in a corner of my site. Should I get my garage regularised?

V Rao: If you have built it against the approved plan you have to regularise it. If you have doubts you can consult an engineer, who can tell you whether the building adheres to the approved plan.

Dinesh Kumar, Yelahanka
I own a site in Jayanagar. There is a margin land attached to my property. Can I acquire (encroach) this unclaimed land and get it regularised?

V Rao: The marginal land belongs to the government. Unless the marginal land is registered to you, you can not claim it as yours. There is no question of regularising such acquisition.

Manorama, Bannerghatta Road
We run a charitable trust and a school for children from lower income group. The school building is to be regularised and as per the calculations the regularisation fee may go up to Rs 50 lakh. We are not into any commercial venture. Is there any exemption for charitable trusts from paying the regularisation fee?

V Rao: According to the government’s policy there is no exemption given to anybody from paying regularisation fee in case of violations. However, banks have come forward to give loans and help people in this regard. You can approach such banks.

Ashok Kumar, 4th T Blo ck Jayanagar
I had built a shed to park my car. Now I have rented it out for a clinic. Is it considered commercial and should I apply for regularisation?

V Rao: Running a clinic is a commercial venture. You have to apply for regularisation of changed land use.

Rajesh, Banaswadi
I have applied for regularisation of my property. I want to take up construction there. How much time will you take to regularise it?

V Rao: The last date to submit applications is December 14. After that applications will be taken up for scrutiny. I can’t tell you the exact date when the regularisation will be over. But we have taken measures to complete the process as early as possible.