Give clearance to BBMP to widen Ballari Rd, HC to govt

The High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to grant necessary clearance to the BBMP for widening the Ballari Road from Bangalore Development Authority’s main office to Mehkri Circle.

The court hoped that the road work would be completed in a year.  A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath also directed to issue Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) certificates to land owners as per the Supreme Court order.

Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna submitted that TDR could not be issued yet, although the Apex Court had passed the order in 2014. Ponnanna said that government was contemplating to revision of the TDR rules and redefine zones. To this, the bench said that the Apex Court’s order was to follow the existing TDR rules.
BBMP counsel K N Putte Gowda said BBMP had taken up road repair and was maintaining the road in good condition. He said that the Palike was ready and willing to widen the road, subject to clearance by the government. The bench has been hearing a PIL filed by the residents of Koramangala 3rd Block. The residents have sought directions to hold the BBMP contractors accountable for the quality of roads.  
‘Do not arrest owner’
The High Court on Wednesday directed Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) not to arrest a resident who had constructed his house on a stormwater drain (SWD). The petitioner, K Sameeulla, has approached the court, seeking directions to quash the FIR filed against him by the BMTF.

Justice Anand Byrareddy directed the petitioner to appear before the BMTF on September 14. Sameeulla’s house was demolished by the BBMP to clear the encroachment of the SWD.

In another petition, the judge  granted stay on the proceedings initiated by the BMTF against four BBMP engineers. The engineers, M V Guruprasad, B T Mohan Krishna, R V Govindaraj, R K Shashidhar and Chowde Gowda, approached the court, seeking quashing of the FIRs filed against them by the BMTF. The engineers are accused of allowing construction of buildings on SWDs.