RTI activist: BDA sold flats at high price, made Rs 1000 crore illegally
BENGALURU: The BDA has misappropriated a whopping Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 crores in the construction and allotment of residential complexes to the public at inflated prices, alleged Right To Information (RTI) activist B. M. Shivakumar.
Addressing media persons on Tuesday Mr. Shivakumar alleged that the BDA has taken people who were in need of a flat, for a ride by charging an exorbitant rate, although the motive of the BDA is to provide sites and flats at a ‘no loss no gain’ price.
He said that he has lodged a complaint with thr Lokayukta demanding that the authorities look into the exorbitant prices and probe the files pertaining to the housing complex after making a spot inspection with technical experts.
“Although the cost of construction for each sq. feet is between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200; the BDA is charging anything between Rs 1,770 to Rs 2,200.
Earlier, the BDA had issued advertisements saying that the BDA would allot a one BHK for Rs 5 lakhs, two- BHK for Rs. 7.5 lakhs and three-BHK for Rs 13.5 lakhs.
These prices have been revised and as a result allottees are now returning their sites to the BDA. At least 500 allottees have returned their flats and each day a minimum of five persons are returning their allotted sites,” he added.
It is mandatory for the government wing to prepare a blueprint of the cost of land, project cost and the cost levied on consumers. But the BDA has violated the same.
One more grave blunder committed by the BDA is that the civic body has not taken a clearance from the environment committee, pollution control board, BWSSB, Bescom and the fire force.
Commencing work without clearance is a violation and offence, Mr. Shivakumar said.
“No agency has the power to change the tender provisions to favour a contractor. But in this case, the BDA has violated the payment schedule and has made a payment of a few crores to a contractor ahead of the commencement of work,” he said.
Mr. Shivakumar said that the Lokayukta complaint has been registered against Principal Secretary of urban development, BDA commissioner, BDA chairman, BDA finance member and engineer officer.
