Panel to review commercial activities in residential areas

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will soon constitute a panel to review commercial activities in residential areas.

Mayor G Padmavathi, in the monthly council meeting held on Saturday, said that the committee will review commercial activities in all residential areas. She, however, did not mention the composition of the panel and the date by which it would be set up.

The mayor was responding to Padmanabha Reddy, leader of the Opposition in the BBMP council, who had criticised the Palike’s decision to crack down on property owners running commercial spaces in residential areas. “The state government has to intervene since the order has been issued by the high court  on banning commercial activities in residential areas. I appeal to the Palike to file a review petition in court. If the court order is followed, building owners and those working for them will be on the streets,” Reddy said. Corporators Umesh Shetty, S Raju and C R Lakshminarayana supported Reddy.

Reddy pointed out that trade licences had not been issued effectively to traders in Kacharakanahalli ward which he represents. “There are 2,097 traders. But, trade licences have been given to just 231,” Reddy said. BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad said they would make provisions for registered property owners to get trade licences in 45 days.

Prasad said as per the BDA master plan-2015, PG  accommodations come under the ‘residential buildings’ category and hence, there is no restriction on their activities. He pointed out that if the roads in residential areas are 100 feet wide, property owners can utilise their entire building for commercial activities, as per the BDA plan. “If the road is 40 feet wide, 20% of the building can be utilised for commercial purpose by the owner,” he added.
DH News Service