Government to regularise unauthorised constructions

Government to regularise unauthorised constructions



Express News Service First Published : 17 Jun 2009 03:54:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 17 Jun 2009 08:22:31 AM IST
BANGALORE: Transport Minister, R Ashok, on Tuesday said that the government would soon take a final decision on regularisation of unauthorised constructions (Akrama- Sakrama) in the city. Speaking to reporters, Ashok, who heads the cabinet sub-committee, said that the report on the steps to be taken for regularisation was in the final stages of preparation. The report has recommended penalties for three types of violations - one, encroachment of parks, school grounds etc, second, plan violation and third, violation of the rule on the number of floors.
“Soon the matter will be discussed with the officials of Urban Development Department, BBMP, Bangalore Development Authority, etc and a final decision will be taken,” he said.
Asked whether the proposed system would be introduced before or after BBMP elections, Ashok remarked, “It is not an election-gimmick.” The minister reiterated the government’s decision to hold elections to the BBMP at the earliest.
Ashok, who is also incharge of Bangalore Urban District (South) said that the government was taking necessary steps to expedite the process of holding the elections.
“A gazette notification regarding delimitation of wards will be issued on Wednesday. The government wants to complete all processes before July-end and it is for the State Election Commission to decide on the date of holding elections,” he added.
To a query, Ashok said that the government had decided to keep the Kasturirangan committee recommendations on restructuring the BBMP in abeyance as it would delay the process of holding the elections. “The court has directed us to hold the elections at the earliest, but if we were to implement the recommendations , i t would take more than a year,” he stated.
When his attention was drawn to the allegation by JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy that the government would not be able to clear the encroachments on the main drainage lines as the BJP leaders were largely involved in the encroachments, Ashok reacted that his partymen cannot be blamed as his party came to power only an year ago.
“It is the Congress and the JD(S) which had been in power for more than 40 years and it is those who were in power during that period who have encroached upon the drainage lines. All party leaders are involved. The government is determined to remove the encroachments and we will not succumb to any pressure. It has constituted a Task Force for the purpose,” he stated.