Banks have expressed their willingness to finance applicants who are interested in regularising their unauthorised developments or constructions under the ongoing Sakrama 2007 of the BBMP. 

Disclosing this to Metrolife, Sandeep Dash, Special Commissioner, Resources and Finance, said this followed a recent meeting held in the City with representatives of nationalised and private banks. “The State Bank of Mysore has already conveyed their interest in a written form.

The main reason we took the initiative to arrange the finance is that while the salaried class can easily get loans, housewives and retired people who are keen on regularisation must not back out due to non-availabilty of finance,” Dass said.

This ambitious scheme to encourage the public to regularise all kinds of violations in the City was launched by BBMP on September 15 this year will continue up to  December 14.

There has been a favourable response in the City to the exhaustive booklet on the scheme along with the application form, priced at Rs 100. Details on the fine amounts and frequently asked questions find place in the book.

“Altogether one lakh copies of the book were printed in two lots of 50,000 each. Around 50,000 books have been sold already through post offices, Bangalore One centres and apex banks,” Dash said. Filled-up applications along with a DD taken for the fee prescribed in accordance with the violation caused are collected at post offices.

To ensure that it is a risk-free venture for banks, a tripartite agreement has been decided upon, the Special Commissioner said. As per the understanding, if the application is okayed for regularisation, the documents will be kept with the bank.

This would ensure that the individual does not default on the loan taken. However, if the applicant’s property does not get regularised, then the DD submitted by the applicant will be sent directly to the bank for refund purposes. 

“We are expecting a huge rush of filled-in applications by the month of December as the deadline approaches,”  Dass said. The response is picking up and we hope to receive between three and four lakh completed applications when the scheme draws to a close, he added.

Speaking to Metrolife earlier,  Vasant Rao, Deputy Commissioner, Resources, said that there has been a tremendous response from the areas recently constituted under the BBMP.

Violators who refuse to go in for the regularisation of unauthorised constructions will be deprived of water and power supply if found guilty.

Sakrama 2007 is expected to ensure a collection of Rs  500–600 crore which will be used during the next financial year to create the much-needed infrastructure in the City.