The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : CPI(M) for withdrawal of Sakrama deadline

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

CPI(M) for withdrawal of Sakrama deadline

Staff Reporter

Party members to lay siege to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike head office on November 27

‘Penalty rates fixed for regularisation are very high’
Plat to permit owners to pay fine in instalments

BANGALORE: Alleging that the Sakrama scheme is a conspiracy by the State Government to loot the common man, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have demanded that the December 14 deadline to file applications and pay penalty for regularisation of unauthorised constructions be withdrawn.

Under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Regularisation of unauthorised development or constructions) Rules, 2007, seven corporations in the State, including Bangalore, have embarked upon the regularisation process. Violations up to 50 per cent in residential buildings and up to 25 per cent in commercial ones can be regularised under Sakrama that was launched on September 14.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, CPI(M) State secretary Prakash K. pointed out that the penalty rates fixed for regularisation by the Government were very high. “If a citizen has to get all the four types of violations (pertaining to Floor Area Ratio, setback, town planning and zoning regulations) regularised on a 60 by 40 site, he has to pay a minimum of Rs. 6.5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh. He might have to sell his property to mobilise such a huge amount before December 14,” Mr. Prakash said.

Urging the Government to permit the property owners to pay the fine in instalments, Mr Prakash said that the rates should be reduced to ensure that the citizens are not burdened. “It is ridiculous that citizens should pay bribes during construction and penalty after construction. If the Government has to use this money for providing infrastructure, then what is the Government’s duty?” he asked.

The civic authorities’ decision to disconnect water and power supply to those who do not get their violations regularised should be dropped as the citizens would have paid huge deposits to get the connections. This apart, citizens who have to get violations pertaining to zoning rules regularised should pay Rs 15,000 to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) as advertisement charges.

Over 2,000 CPI(M) members will lay siege to the BBMP head office on November 27 and submit a memorandum to Commissioner S. Subramanya seeking withdrawal of the deadline.

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