Now, site allottees take BDA to real estate authority

Complaints against the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) at the Real Estate Regulatory Authority Karnataka (K-RERA) are rising. People who have bought sites in residential colonies developed by the BDA feel cheated.

K-RERA, established by the state government to oversee real estate transactions, has received at least 796 complaints against the BDA.

Twelve of them pertain to Kempegowda Layout in southwestern Bengaluru alone. K-RERA officials say it’s the first time complaints have been registered against the BDA, a government body. Being into real estate development, the BDA falls under K-RERA.

Allottees are riled by the BDA’s failure to provide basic facilities in KG Layout, heavy fines and interest imposed on them for late payment and the delay in the project, K S Latha Kumari, Secretary Housing at K-RERA, told DH.

The list of unhappy allottees is likely to swell as Arkavathy Layout allottees who were given sites in Kempegowda Layout are also planning to approach K-RERA. Kumari promised action as per the rules.

The authority has opened the cases and summoned BDA officials for hearing.

BDA officials, for their part, say they have obtained the case files from K-RERA and will respond during the hearings.

At the last hearing, answering a question about a delayed project, a BDA official pushed the March 2018 deadline to March 2020.

G Usha is among allottees who have approached K-RERA. She bought a 60x40 site in KG Layout for Rs 52 lakh in 2016 but could not start construction for lack of
basic facilities in the residential colony.

She now wants the BDA to pay her the proportionate interest per annum for the site’s value.

“People in other layouts like Anjanapura are still suffering in the absence of any facilities. I do not want to suffer like them,” she said.

“This (KG) layout resembles a barren field. How can the BDA expect people to start living there.”

Santosh K G, a RERA activist and another KG Layout allottee, has challenged the construction clause laid down by the BDA while allotting sites.

The BDA expects allottees to complete construction within five years of getting sites. Santosh says that’s not possible unless basic amenities are in place.

“Many allottees have taken housing loans under the condition that if they do not start the construction within two years, the loan will become commercial which entails a high rate of interest. The BDA must complete the project within the stipulated time. We should not pay for its mistakes,” he said.