No decision yet on Sakrama

No decision yet on Sakrama
DH News Service, Bangalore:

Sakrama, the proposed scheme for regularisation of unauthorised constructions, is still in a limbo. Those who paid the money for regularisation of their properties are worried as the State government has not yet come out with modifications of the scheme.

Karnataka High Court had stayed the scheme on December 11, 2007. Following the court order, the State government extended the deadline to file applications for Sakrama till March 31, 2008. The government had also assured the public that it will bring in a few modifications in the scheme to make it more people-friendly. So far the government has not come out with its decision on the scheme.

A Narasimhan, a land developer associated with Padmanabhanagar based Mummy Daddy Land Developers, had paid Rs 8 lakh for regularisation of two plots measuring 18,000 sqft and 4,200 sqft in unauthorised layouts in Uttarahalli. He paid the money expecting regularisation certificate to continue construction of an apartment complex on his plot, located in unauthorised layout.

According to Palike sources nearly 200 property owners had paid the regularisation fee before December 11, the day when duration for filing applications extended. A few of them have been approaching the Palike demanding that their amount be returned as the state government has not made its stand on the scheme clear so far.

Governor’s adviser Krishna Kumar is holding meetings with officers of Urban Development department regarding the scheme. It is said that the state government is contemplating to make the scheme people-friendly by bringing down regularisation fee meant for plots measuring lesser than 60 sq mtrs. The government would come out with certain modifications of the scheme in a week’s time, said an officer.

Citizens seek change
Citizens Action Forum has urged that the Sakrama scheme should not be applied for residential buildings built before 2004. The forum adopted this resolution at a workshop on “Sakrama - What Next,” organised by Bangalore on Thursday.

Representatives of various residents welfare associations unanimously supported this resolution. However, they maintained that Sakrama can be applied for commercial establishments and the new buildings. N S Mukunda, president of the forum, said that the resolutions will be submitted to the Governor.