Deccan Herald 18.11.2013
Illegal buildings the norm in City, not exception
Those constructing illegal buildings seem to be
cocking a snook at the BBMP. Complaints and protests by residents have
failed to evoke any response from the builders. Even the notices and
stop orders from the Palike have failed to curb the menace of illegal
structures.
Take for instance, the under-construction
building at VI Main, SFHS Layout, Bannerghatta Road, BTM Layout II
Stage. The plot owner Magaram Pawar is allegedly constructing a
structure which is in complete violation of the building plan sanctioned
by the BBMP, despite the stop order from commissioner M
Lakshminarayana.
Ten local residents’ representatives had sent the complaint to BMTF, with regard to the illegal building.
“I approached the commissioner and got a stop order on
September 26. The sanctioned building plan obtained under RTI clearly
says that Pawar can build the ground floor, first floor and half of
second floor. One and half months after the stop order, he started
constructing again and is on the way to complete the third floor,” said a
senior citizen living close-by.
The builder, when contacted, was on the defensive: “We have not got any stop order from BBMP. We have completed constructing two floors and have not gone beyond it. Our plot size is 25’x40’ and not 28’x42’, as claimed by residents.”
Ot 20th Main, Jayanagar 4th ‘T’ Block, a few residents approached former Palike Commissioner Siddaiah in 2012, regarding the unauthorised structure coming up in their locality. However, their efforts proved futile.
“We approached even the Lokayukta. The construction that began in 2012 is nearing completion. Palike engineers could have demolished the structure, but they did not. They are hand-in-glove with the builder and have allowed him to build more than four floors,” said N Rao, a resident.
RTI activist B M Shivakumar maintains that violations form 70 to 80 per cent of all constructions in every part of the City in the Palike limits.
“Implementation of Akrama Sakrama too won’t help, as it allows the byelaw deviations to be regularised. BBMP officials should first stop passing the buck and not sanction building plans, in case of violations,” he said.
Lakshminarayana said the Palike receives one or two complaints every day about building violations.
“The Palike is yet to conduct a survey to find out the number of such violations. In case the builder continues to construct the property, despite being issued a notice or a final warning, we will demolish it.”
The number of stop orders issued by Palike is also yet to be compiled for this year. Palike sources maintained that zonal engineers, generally, keep tabs on building violations.
The builder, when contacted, was on the defensive: “We have not got any stop order from BBMP. We have completed constructing two floors and have not gone beyond it. Our plot size is 25’x40’ and not 28’x42’, as claimed by residents.”
Ot 20th Main, Jayanagar 4th ‘T’ Block, a few residents approached former Palike Commissioner Siddaiah in 2012, regarding the unauthorised structure coming up in their locality. However, their efforts proved futile.
“We approached even the Lokayukta. The construction that began in 2012 is nearing completion. Palike engineers could have demolished the structure, but they did not. They are hand-in-glove with the builder and have allowed him to build more than four floors,” said N Rao, a resident.
RTI activist B M Shivakumar maintains that violations form 70 to 80 per cent of all constructions in every part of the City in the Palike limits.
“Implementation of Akrama Sakrama too won’t help, as it allows the byelaw deviations to be regularised. BBMP officials should first stop passing the buck and not sanction building plans, in case of violations,” he said.
Lakshminarayana said the Palike receives one or two complaints every day about building violations.
“The Palike is yet to conduct a survey to find out the number of such violations. In case the builder continues to construct the property, despite being issued a notice or a final warning, we will demolish it.”
The number of stop orders issued by Palike is also yet to be compiled for this year. Palike sources maintained that zonal engineers, generally, keep tabs on building violations.
“Some engineers inform us and some don’t. It is difficult and it takes a lot of time to get the total number of buildings that have been constructed violating rules in the eight zones,” said Palike spokesperson S S Khandre.
