Don't rely on govt agencies, check revenue records

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has sent across a strong message that property buyers should not rely upon approvals given by the government agencies. Instead, check the revenue records on their own to verify the topographical details.

Even though the Palike, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and other planning authorities are the arms of the state government, BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad denies any deliberate wrong-doing.

He explains, “The government has not committed any fraud on the people. It is some officials who connived with the builders and cheated people. The government has no role in it.”

Apparently, BBMP has shrugged off its responsibility even as a major humanitarian crisis stares at many families, who will be rendered homeless in the wake of the large-scale demolitions.

Prasad contends that these houses were demolished as they had come up on government stormwater drains. “When that being the case (houses on drains), these house owners will be treated as encroachers. Permissions were given by the fraudulent officers and builders. We are punishing them,” he says.

Compensation to the property losers is not something that the financially ailing BBMP has on its agenda. “It is the duty of the property buyers not to just rely upon the approvals given by the (competent) authorities. They should also go through the revenue records to see whether the property is on government land such as stormwater drains and lakes,” Prasad points out.
 BBMP's double standard

The Palike has set aside the BDA's Master Plan and the approvals given by the Authority’s officers. It has relied upon village maps, although a High Court ruling in 2012 says geographical details such as stormwater drains in the revenue records do not have any value if these details are not mentioned in the master plan.

Since the case pertained to a powerful builder, BBMP did not appeal against the order. A legal expert in the Palike points out, “The demolition drive itself is illegal until the BBMP gets a favourable order against the High Court ruling.”

Property owners who are particularly hit by the ongoing demolition drive are those who cannot afford legal assistance, a costly and time-consuming affair.