BENGALURU: The cash-strapped BBMP can earn more revenue with the urban development department designating the BBMP as the plan sanctioning authority for construction of structures in BDA formed layouts too. Sanctioning building plans and issuing Occupancy Certificate (OC) is one of the major revenue spinner to the BBMP.
With the urban development department permitting BBMP to sanction building plan, apart from earning more revenue, the BBMP can monitor planned constructions, said Sampath Raj, member of BBMP standing committee on Town Planning.
Earlier, although the sites formed by the BDA were located within BBMP jurisdiction, the property owners had to get building plan sanctioned from the BDA. This created confusion and BBMP engineers and town planners had no authority to question even if the properties were built in violation with the sanctioned building plan, he said.
There was a crunch of town planners in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). With the power of sanctioning plan given to BBMP town planners, they can help for planned growth.
In some parts of Mahadevapura, KIADB has been issuing the building plan. This has created jurisdictional problem between two government agencies. It would be better if the BBMP issues plan for all the properties located within its jurisdiction spread over 800 sq km. The BBMP authorities can also issue OC after inspection those structures, added Mr. Raj.
BDA Town Planning member Chowdegowda said that BBMP is authorized to sanction plan only for those layouts that fall under its jurisdiction. BDA being the planning body, the civic body sanctions plans for layouts and buildings within its jurisdiction. The BDA is now focusing on Comprehensive Development Plan-2031 for planned growth, he said.
Members of Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) felt that due to slackness on part of BBMP and BDA authorities, the buildings are not built in compliance with the sanctioned plan. This was causing a lot of problem in neighbourhood.
Although the state government had given a cut off date for Sakrama scheme until 2012, spate of such unauthorized construction are coming up across the city and the members felt there is a need to curb such violations, the members felt.
