The Hindu 18.12.2013
146 unauthorised layouts in TG Halli baffles court
A survey by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on
the directions of the Karnataka High Court has revealed that 146
unauthorised layouts were formed within one kilometre of the banks of
Arkavathi and Kumudavathi rivers, which is categorised as a protected
zone (Zone-3), around Tippagondanahalli (T.G. Halli) catchment area.
In
its draft preliminary report submitted to the court on Tuesday, the BDA
also stated that 482 non-residential structures and 3,506 residential
units have come up in 23 villages falling in Zone-3, which comes under
the jurisdiction of the BDA.
The BDA had submitted a
draft report after working over the last weekend as the agency had been
given three days (December 14-16) by the court to identify illegal
structures in the 23 villages.
Court baffled
“This
[number of unauthorised layouts] reflects on the administration of the
BDA, which is responsible for town planning and development of this
area,” said Justice A.N. Venugopala Gowda.
“If the
BDA had prevented formation of unauthorised layouts, people would not
have invested their money on houses in these areas,” the court observed.
While
expressing displeasure over the manner in which the BDA allowed these
unauthorised activities in its jurisdiction for the past 10 years, the
court said BDA’s inaction defeated the purpose of the November 18, 2003
notification by the State government categorising the catchment area
under various zones. It allowed only agriculture and agriculture-related
activities in Zone 3 without prior permission from authorities with the
intention of protecting it from pollution.
The court
said it would constitute a committee, headed by an Additional Chief
Secretary, to monitor activities in the area after being informed that
another 100 villages falling in Zone-3 come under other planning
authorities. The court will pass an order on constitution of the panel
on December 18.
