The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `File report on building norms violations before August 21'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`File report on building norms violations before August 21'

Staff Reporter

Residents' association has challenged illegal change in land use

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to file before August 21 a status report on the violations of building norms and illegal change in land use in Sadashivanagar, Bangalore.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice N.K. Patil, passed the order in a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by the Sadashivanagar Residents Association challenging the illegal change in the land use.

The association had moved the court for a direction to the BMP to survey Sadashivanagar for violation of building norms and illegal change in land use. It had furnished a list of 70 pieces of property, which it alleged, had violated the change in the land use.

Saying that Sadashivanagar and Rajmahal Vilas Extensions were residential extensions, it alleged that the buildings in these areas were being put to commercial use. Yet, the authorities, including the Government and the BMP, had not taken any action.

It said the association was formed mainly to promote orderly growth of Sadashivanagar, Rajamahal Vilas Extension, Upper Palace Orchards and the areas to the south of T. Chowdiah Road from Cauvery cinema traffic light junction to Bashyam Circle.

It complained that there was alarming commercial development in the localities though most of the area was reserved as residential under the Comprehensive Development Plan of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Moreover, the provisions of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act were being violated. It said such violations had led to choking of road space and haphazard parking of vehicles.

The unchecked development had led to increase in traffic on the arterial roads such as T. Chowdiah Road, Bellary Road, C.V. Raman Road and areas around Mehkri Circle, resulting in air and noise pollution.

In its statement, the BMP said it had inspected the area soon after the petition was filed and conducted a preliminary survey. The survey, it said, included the 70 buildings mentioned by the association and it listed the buildings used for commercial, semi-public and public purposes.

In its 16-page report, the BMP has said it has found violations in nearly 140 of the 169 buildings surveyed. The report, supervised by the Assistant Executive Engineer, Hebbal sub-division, named the residential buildings that are being used for commercial purposes in Ward No 99 and the names of its owners and the date when the BMP issued a show cause notice.

The Bench adjourned further hearing in the case.

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