Sakrama: Drawbacks come to the fore

Sakrama: Drawbacks come to the fore
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Though BBMP is charging Rs 100 per booklet, it doesn't have any information on the guidance value. BBMP Deputy Commissioner U A Vasanth Raos reply was to log on to BBMP website for the information.

“Local architects are not cooperating in filling the Sakrama form. What should I do?”

“Sakrama form is very difficult to understand. How can I fill it?”

“No BBMP official is cooperating to fill the form.”

BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Resources) U A Vasanth Rao was bombarded with these questions and several other complaints on Saturday.

He was answering citizens’ que ries on Sakrama scheme of the State government on an invitation by Deccan Herald at its office on M G Road.

The queries unearthed several drawbacks in the way the BBMP implemented the scheme. For instance, Venkatachalapathi, a resident of Kempapura, complained to Vasanth Rao over phone that local architects have not been cooperating with him to fill the form.

As per the Sakrama booklet, one has to take the help of local architects in filling the form. BBMP has not even set up help desks at the zonal level.

For this, the official did not have an appropriate answer. He only maintained that the booklet is clear. He also confessed that BBMP officials will not be able to help as they will have a little knowledge on the subject.

Another major problem with people applying under the scheme is they do not have access to information to guidance value.

Though BBMP is charging Rs 100 per booklet, it doesn’t have any information on the guidance value. Mr Vasanth Rao’s reply was to log on to BBMP website for the information.

Besides, citizens found the Sakrama booklet complicated. “I think I have to contact a lawyer to understand your booklet. It’s very complicated. You could have made it people-friendly,” Manjunath, a resident of Mysore Road area complained.

The booklet doesn’t clarify why building plan sanctioned by erstwhile local panchayats are illegal.


*nBooklets available at all post offices, B-1 centres and Apex Bank branches
*The booklet is priced at Rs 100; printed both in Kannada & English
*The filled-in form should be submitted before December 14
*Regularisation scheme applies for properties constructed before Feb 3, 2007
*Last date to file applications will not be extended
*Regularisation fee will not be reduced
*Take the help of an architect or an engineer to fill the form, if necessary
*There is no need to pay betterment charges & property tax along with regularisation fee
*Residents of apartments have to take up regularisation through their associations
*Owner of a property in an unauthorised layout can apply individually
*Several banks are offering loans to pay regularisation fee
*Regularisation fee and betterment fee are entirely different
*No agency (including charitable organisations) or individuals will be exempted from the regularisation fee
*Measures against violators could include snapping of power and water supply
*Before BBMP checks building bye-law violations, BDA checks on the land use pattern
*Panchayats have no authority to sanction plans
*Buildings with mixed activity (residential & commercial) to be treated based on predominant activity
* details on the scheme, visit www.bmponline.org