Building law violations; penalty cut in the offing

Building law violations; penalty cut in the offing
DNA Correspondent
Friday, November 07, 2008 20:58 IST
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BANGALORE: The Akrama-Sakrama scheme for regularization of illegal constructions and building byelaw violations, might soon be back with several citizen-friendly features.

The cabinet subcommittee formed to review the scheme has in principle agreed to liberalise the 50 per cent ceiling on deviations from sanctioned plans in case of residential buildings.

The Town and Country Planning Act mandates demolition of all structures with violations of over 50 per cent in case of residential structures and 25 per cent for commercial structures.

"It will be inhuman to demolish houses even if the violation is found to be 51 per cent. The problem is very serious as the number of such residential units could be more than a lakh. We are in favour of a people-friendly law with more liberal upper limit on violations and reduction in penalty amount," transport minister R Ashok who heads the ministerial panel told mediapersons here on Friday.

The minister observed that the current penalty rates --- Rs 200 per sq metre of violation for structures built in plots up to 20x30 ft, Rs 400 for plots up to 30x40 ft and Rs 600 for sites --- are too high and they would be reduced drastically.

The benefit would be maximum for the 20x30 ft segment, as would benefit the below poverty line families, the minister said.

Officials of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have been instructed to submit a report with details on the number of structures that have violated the norms within 15 days. An amendment would be brought for the Town and Country Planning Act very soon with more people-friendly rules for regularization of unauthorise construction. The Act would cover all major towns in the state.

The scheme would also have provisions for stringent punishment for builders, officers and owners for any building plan violations in future. Officials found colluding with such builders would be made to pay up the fine. Builders would be penalised in cases of violations by apartment blocks.

The meeting also expressed its displeasure at the BDA's Comprehensive Development Plan for including private lands along major drains as part of its Valley Zone area. The BDA should acquire such lands before showing them as part of the Valley Zone, Ashok said.