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Akrama-Sakrama will take some time

Bangalore Bureau

Law-abiding property owners resent demolition drive to widen roads

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Razed: Violation of building bylaws is common in Bangalore as in the case of this illegal commercial complex that was demolished. Akrama-Sakrama will regularise violations to a certain extent on payment of a penalty.

BANGALORE: An estimated seven lakh property owners in Bangalore are looking forward to regularisation of unauthorised constructions as part of the Akrama-Sakrama scheme approved by the Cabinet on Thursday. However, their hopes of early notification of the scheme may be dashed as it entails amendment of the Town and Country Planning Act. Senior officials of the Urban Development Department said the Legislature, scheduled to meet from December 14, was expected to debate the proposed amendments in the form of a Bill.

“A notification can be issued only after the Bill approved by the Legislature is ratified by the Governor,” said an official.

Also, the official said, a draft notification indicating the guidelines had to be published in the gazette, giving at least 15 days’ time for objections and suggestions before commencing the scheme, which will be operative only for three months from then.

The need to amend the Act is in view of the “time-bound” nature of its provision. “Akrama-Sakrama provisions cannot be indefinite because it will encourage unauthorised constructions in future,” said the official.

The notification can also be delayed if the State Election Commission announces the calendar of events for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections. In such a case, the scheme can be implemented only after the elections.

Demolition resentment

Meanwhile, the scheme comes at a time when the BBMP is on overdrive to demolish “legally built” houses for road-widening projects in various parts of the city. Eighty-five roads have been notified for widening to ease traffic congestion, entailing the demolition or part-demolition of thousands of commercial and residential buildings.

There is widespread bitterness among property owners averse to the Transfer of Developmental Rights given to them in return for their lost property.

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