<p>Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has sold a civic amenity (CA) site in Jayanagar 8th Block, on which a nursing home is located, for a meagre Rs 2 crore.</p>.<p>Had the BDA followed the guidance value (the minimum rate at which a property sale in the area is registered), it would have been richer by Rs 23.20 crore, it is learnt.</p>.<p>A controversial order issued on July 31, 2020, empowers the BDA to sell CA sites, meant for public use, to private parties. </p>.Water pipeline leak at KIA Terminal 2 disrupts airline offices .<p>In 1973, the site in question was allotted to Dr LS Boregowda by the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), the BDA’s predecessor, for 10 years, with the stated purpose of establishing a private nursing home and hospital.</p>.<p>The property, spread over 8,000 sqft, is situated on 40th Cross, 1st A Main, in Jayanagar 8th Block. The corner site was allotted against an initial deposit of Rs 24,404 and an <br>annual fee of Rs 12.</p>.<p>When the 10-year period expired, Boregowda requested the BDA to issue an absolute sale deed for No 27/A, the site in question.</p>.<p>The then BDA commissioner rejected the request, citing the rules and saying CA sites could not be transferred to individuals. The allottee wrote to the BDA with a similar request in 2008 and 2013. The requests were again turned down, on the same grounds.</p>.<p>In 2015, Boregowda approached the BDA with a grievance — he had not been able to register the houses built on the CA site in the name of his children. He repeated the request for an absolute sale deed.</p>.Pedestrian deaths drop by 19% in Bengaluru in 2024, but challenges persist.<p><strong>Strange U-turn</strong></p>.<p>In 2018, a BDA board meeting took the view that the property was not a CA site. A year later, in a letter to the Urban Development Ddepartment (UDD), it made out a case for the issue of a sale deed.</p>.<p>The BJP government, however, turned down the request, given that the BDA had taken contrary positions on the nature of the site. But on July 12, 2024, the BDA issued an absolute sale deed in the names of Boregowda’s children Srihari Boregowda, Srinidhi Boregowda, Srisai Boregowda, and Srimai Sunil.</p>.<p>“This is an exceptional case,” the BDA noted, charging just 10% of the guidance value for the site.</p>.<p>Activists estimate the site costs not less than Rs 60 crore in the market.</p>.<p>“The government has fixed a guidance value of Rs 2.9 lakh per square metre on the 40 ft road in Jayanagar 8th Block. The BDA has sold a 8,000 sqft site for just Rs 2 crore. This is way below the guidance rate of Rs 23.20 crore. The BDA has violated all norms,” RTI activist Kumar said.</p>.<p>With the BDA issuing an absolute sale deed, it has lost complete control over a CA site that was meant for the benefit of the public. A source said the property is likely to be converted for commercial use.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has sold a civic amenity (CA) site in Jayanagar 8th Block, on which a nursing home is located, for a meagre Rs 2 crore.</p>.<p>Had the BDA followed the guidance value (the minimum rate at which a property sale in the area is registered), it would have been richer by Rs 23.20 crore, it is learnt.</p>.<p>A controversial order issued on July 31, 2020, empowers the BDA to sell CA sites, meant for public use, to private parties. </p>.Water pipeline leak at KIA Terminal 2 disrupts airline offices .<p>In 1973, the site in question was allotted to Dr LS Boregowda by the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), the BDA’s predecessor, for 10 years, with the stated purpose of establishing a private nursing home and hospital.</p>.<p>The property, spread over 8,000 sqft, is situated on 40th Cross, 1st A Main, in Jayanagar 8th Block. The corner site was allotted against an initial deposit of Rs 24,404 and an <br>annual fee of Rs 12.</p>.<p>When the 10-year period expired, Boregowda requested the BDA to issue an absolute sale deed for No 27/A, the site in question.</p>.<p>The then BDA commissioner rejected the request, citing the rules and saying CA sites could not be transferred to individuals. The allottee wrote to the BDA with a similar request in 2008 and 2013. The requests were again turned down, on the same grounds.</p>.<p>In 2015, Boregowda approached the BDA with a grievance — he had not been able to register the houses built on the CA site in the name of his children. He repeated the request for an absolute sale deed.</p>.Pedestrian deaths drop by 19% in Bengaluru in 2024, but challenges persist.<p><strong>Strange U-turn</strong></p>.<p>In 2018, a BDA board meeting took the view that the property was not a CA site. A year later, in a letter to the Urban Development Ddepartment (UDD), it made out a case for the issue of a sale deed.</p>.<p>The BJP government, however, turned down the request, given that the BDA had taken contrary positions on the nature of the site. But on July 12, 2024, the BDA issued an absolute sale deed in the names of Boregowda’s children Srihari Boregowda, Srinidhi Boregowda, Srisai Boregowda, and Srimai Sunil.</p>.<p>“This is an exceptional case,” the BDA noted, charging just 10% of the guidance value for the site.</p>.<p>Activists estimate the site costs not less than Rs 60 crore in the market.</p>.<p>“The government has fixed a guidance value of Rs 2.9 lakh per square metre on the 40 ft road in Jayanagar 8th Block. The BDA has sold a 8,000 sqft site for just Rs 2 crore. This is way below the guidance rate of Rs 23.20 crore. The BDA has violated all norms,” RTI activist Kumar said.</p>.<p>With the BDA issuing an absolute sale deed, it has lost complete control over a CA site that was meant for the benefit of the public. A source said the property is likely to be converted for commercial use.</p>
