Govt tightens regularisation rules under Akrama Sakrama

In a bid to discourage illegal construction, the State government has tightened rules for regularisation of setback violations under the proposed Akrama Sakrama scheme.

As per the final notification issued by the Urban Development department recently for implementing the scheme, the way setback violations were proposed to be estimated has been changed.

Setback violations will now be calculated on all four sides of a building separately.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is learnt to have directed the officials concerned to tighten the rules in order to ensure proper ventilation between buildings.

If the violation is more than 50 per cent of the stipulated setback on any one side, then the building will become ineligible for regularisation.

A majority of the illegally constructed buildings in cities, including in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike limits, do not qualify for regularisation under the much-awaited scheme.

Earlier, it was proposed to calculate the sum total of setback violation in a building. The scheme now envisages regularisation of, among others, up to 50 per cent of setback violations in residential buildings and up to 25 per cent in commercial buildings. However, there is no change in the penalty for regularisation – 6 per cent of market value per sq mt for violations up to 25 per cent and 8 per cent of market value per sq mt for violations between 25 per cent and 50 per cent.

Setback rules differ from one urban local body to another. It depends on the width of the road, floor area ratio of the building and the zone in which the plot is located.
The government is now awaiting the green signal from the High Court of Karnataka for implementing the scheme, which was conceived in 2006 when the JD(S)-BJP coalition government was in power.

However, its implementation got delayed due to legal hurdles and lack of political concensus.

This apart, the government has reduced the penal fee for not providing civic amenity sites, parks and open space in a layout.

Accordingly, three per cent of market value for plots measuring up to 60 sq mt, 5 per cent for 60 to 120 sq mt and 15 per cent for more than 120 sq mt will be imposed as fee.

Previously, a flat 15 per cent was fixed irrespective of dimensions. The reduction is aimed at easing the burden on the poor and middle class, official sources said.