Wires cut by Bescom
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Power supply will be disconnected to buildings that are built violating regulations, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Bescom) has said, as authorities look to rein in unauthorised constructions that are rampant in the city.
But Bescom will only disconnect power supply when there is a request from civic bodies, statutory authorities, panchayat raj department, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) among others.
In a circular issued recently, Bescom's chief general manager, operations (electrical), directed all field officers to give seven days notice to the consumers upon receiving any written directions from the appropriate authority. “Any lapses on this will be viewed seriously,” the letter states.
Bescom has cited multiple provisions under the Indian Electricity Act and the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Corporation (KERC) Code 2004 as well as the clauses mentioned in the mutually agreed power supply agreement, which empower the utility to disconnect power supply whenever there is a direction or request from government agencies for non-compliance of building bylaws.
In its circular, Bescom cited the proceedings of Lokayukta in connection with the collapse of a building at Babusapalya, which killed nine workers.
C N Kumar, a resident of Jayanagar, termed the Bescom order “very significant” to fight against illegal construction. Even the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) must follow the suit, he added.
On December 17, the Supreme Court had ruled that banks and financial institutions cannot sanction loans against any building as security without verifying the occupancy certificate. It also said water, electricity and sewerage connections shall be given by service providers only after the production of such a certificate.
A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Madhavan had issued pan-India guidelines to check illegal constructions.
R Rajgopalan, convener of Bengaluru Coalition, said the BBMP should immediately incorporate disconnection of power, water & electricity connections in its SOP when it issues notices to property owners under 248 (3) & 15 (4) under the BBMP Act and the KTMC Act.
“We have seen violators continue construction without heeding to BBMP notices to suspend work. The only way to stop work other than deploying a large monitoring force is to cut power and water supply,” he said.