Questioning government’s powers to modify rules in the absence of an elected body, and terming the modifications an ‘eyewash’, these organisations are now gearing up to file objections to the new rules.
The government notified the modified rules on February 26. March 27 is the last date for filing objections.
Demanding that any decision on this controversial scheme be kept in abeyance till a new government is formed, members of seven civic groups in and around Ramamurthynagar argue “owners of properties in the city’s newly-added areas have not committed any blunder by constructing their houses.”
“We wish the scheme is kept aside till an elected government takes over,” A V Shama Rao of Ramamurthynagar Residents’ Welfare Association said.
Mathew Thomas and N S Mukunda of Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) said the Government had used its powers under Section 76 FF (that enables the Government to regularise unauthorised constructions and developments) of Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act for notifying amendments to the KTCP (Regularisation of Unauthorised Development or Construction), Rules 2007.
“This is strange when the Act, under which these Rules were made, is itself the subject of scrutiny by the High Court of Karnataka. The Court had stayed the processing of applications under the amended Act, introducing Section 76 FF,” Mr Mathew Thomas told Deccan Herald.
“It is an eyewash and an attempt to confuse the public into thinking that the Court would uphold the validity of the impugned law.
Already, 4,000 people have their money blocked by applying for Sakrama and no one knows when they will get it back,” he pointed out.
D V Raghu of the Greater Bangalore Builders and Developers Association wondered how the Government could exempt some parts of BBMP from paying the regularisation fee. “The new rules exempt residents of gramthanas from opting for the scheme. How can this happen, when the Act under which the rules are framed says that it applies to all the areas?” he said.
“It is ridiculous the fee for small site owners has been slashed. A 20X30 site in any part of the City does not cost less than Rs 6 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. If a person can pay so much for a site, can’t he pay a little more to get it regularised? Rates should be common for all.”