Plan violation: 3 apartments to be razed in Uttarahalli today

Notices issued to officials for delay in acting on complaints

After sitting on complaints of building plan violations for four years, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday decided to demolish three apartment complexes and a compound wall at Arehalli near Uttarahalli on Thursday.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday by Muniraju, Joint Commissioner Muniraju (Bommanahalli Zone) under which Uttarahalli ward falls. Fake khatha, building plan, commencement and occupancy certificates were used for constructing these buildings.

“We (BBMP officials) have decided to raze four structures with the help of Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) on Thursday,” said Muniraju.

He said he has served show-cause notices on assistant executive engineer Narasimha Babu, assistant engineers Deve Gowda and Lingaraje Gowda for their laxity in initiating action on the complaints, compelling the residents of Arehalli to approach the Mayor, BBMP Commissioner, BMTF and other agencies.

K Nageswar Rao, president, Hanumagiri Hills Residents' Welfare Association had lodged nine complaints with the BBMP in this regard. The central of all the complaints was that buildings were constructed right under the nose of the ward engineers, on the strength of bogus documents. In one case, an apartment came up right in the middle of the road blocking the link to two localities.

“When the construction of these buildings began in 2012, we applied for khatha, building plan and other documents at the ward offices. The engineers could not provide any of them. We have instances where in the BBMP officials themselves gave us fake documents on behalf of the builders. When we verified them at the BBMP head office, we were told that such documents do not exist. It is apparently a case of collusion between engineers and builders. We doubt the genuineness of land sale deeds too,” Rao said.

Despite many RTI applications and complaints to the higher officials, Palike officials did not act. This forced Rao and the other RWA members to approach Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy and the BBMP Commissioner. On Mayor’s directions, a panel headed by Bommanahalli joint commissioner was formed in which zonal chief engineer, complainants, local corporator and some residents were included.

Rao doubted the BBMP's intention although the joint commissioner ordered demolition of four structures. “The BBMP did not serve notices to the owners of the buildings and abruptly decided to demolish the buildings. This is against natural justice. The order by Muniraju seems to be an eyewash,” said Rao.