BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a circular stating that its officials will take action against building owners if they find any plan violations in buildings that were constructed from 1972 onwards.
BBMP officials were asked to identify illegal buildings and check the extent of deviation. BBMP sources said that it is a tedious job for officials to check and verify old buildings for violations. “We can only check if any specific complaints are made,” the source said.
The circular is a result of an RTI plea by B H Veeresh, an activist. He had sought information pertaining to guidelines followed by BBMP while issuing notices to illegal buildings that were constructed in BDA and gram panchayat limits which later came under the BBMP limits. The case went to the Karnataka Information Commission where a hearing was conducted. The KIC then directed BBMP to issue a circular in this regard.
The circular was issued on May 13 by BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik. It states: “In 1972, State government first approved Outline Development Plan for Bengaluru. Later, in 1984, a Master Plan was prepared and approved. In 1995 and 2007, the Master Plan was revised.
“State government’s notification dated May 28, 2014, where they defined unapproved and violated development as development made without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority and also violation of Master Plan and zonal regulations. This shall apply to all unauthorised development that have come up on or before the date of approval of the first master plan (1972),” the circular states.
The circular also states that now there is a need to check old buildings that were constructed since 1972 and cross check them with the master plan that was applicable for the year the building was constructed. Then, officials have to decide the percentage of violation. Henceforth, officials are asked to take action as per the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act for the illegal old buildings.
BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik said people whose buildings are constructed after 1972 with violations can apply to regularise them but the matter is before court.