Palike defends circular on open space

In an objection statement filed before the Karnataka High Court on Friday, the Palike contended that the circular is in consonance with the provisions of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act and the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association India (Karnataka) has challenged the circular.

The revised master plan 2015 makes it mandatory for the projects coming up on land less than 20,000 sq mtrs area to surrender ten per cent of the land for park and open spaces and five per cent for civic amenities. The Palike has the authority to collect taxes from the builders, the objection statement said, while alleging that private land owners were violating the norms.

The BBMP had issued a circular dated June 9, 2010 directing the land users to reserve ten percent of land as open spaces while constructing the buildings of area less than 20,000 square meters. The petitioner contended that the Palike has no legislative competence to issue such a circular and that it was contrary to the procedures of the Town and Country Planning Act. The matter was adjourned.