Menace of illegal structures: No regard to BBMP

Illegal construction in the city seems to have become as easy as a pie with no regard to BBMP norms. For developers, constructing against the building bye-laws and cocking a snook at the BBMP have become common these days. Protests and complaints from residents along with stop orders and notices from regulating authorities and Palike have failed to curb the growing number of illegal buildings in the Garden City.

The burden of checking and taking step against the bye-law violators has been bestowed on BBMP engineers. With the rise in value of land, it is obvious for the citizens to use the available land to its maximum value. However, according to market experts the BBMP officials can probe during the construction and planning stage to curb any kind of violation.

Illegal constructions

Illegal constructions have been on a rise in the city, irrespective of BBMP’s notifications. Bannerghatta Road, BTM Layout II Stage is the latest in list of illegal constructions in the city which has witnessed illegal constructions despite BBMP’s intervene. A number of buildings in the locality is subjected to violation of the bye-laws is thriving with leaps and bounds.

According to survey reports, constructions in every part of the city within the Palike limits have violated 70-80% of the buildings bye-laws. To make matters worse, even the implementation of Akrama Sakrama will not be of much help, since it permits the bye-law deviations to be regularized. In case of violations of building bye-laws, BBMP officials should make sure not to sanction the buildings plans.

Violations can be regularized

Government officials confirm that the primary reason for violation was the unplanned development of the city and the absence of an adequate monitoring system. According to Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act-1976, violations can be regularized by the BBMP by up to 5%. With a note of concern, government officials state that after proper analysis, the limit can be relaxed and elevated, which may eventually turn out to be one of the biggest revenue earners.

BMTF needs to take severe steps against BBMP officials who sanction unauthorized building plans and defy numerous Acts like the National Building Code,Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act and Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act. BBMP officials are also subjected to severe penalty for being dormant against people issuing false information about a particular land and acquiring the Khata and getting the building plan sanctioned.