BENGALURU: Citizens from multiple areas across the city are reaching out to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and raising complaints about structures violating building bylaws.
One such complaint has been raised against a building on Nandidurga Road Extension. According to the complaint raised by a senior citizen, the building has over 15 major violations, including illegal water and electricity connections.
The building on a small plot area was started years ago with a plan to construct six floors. Residents then raised the issue and complained to the BBMP and even met the then-chief minister.
“A building at the junction of Second Cross and 5th Road reportedly has a generator on an upper floor. The owners sold the building, and after years of litigation, the building is now occupied. Since then, violators started building extra floors, and currently, there are over 15 major violations. Reportedly, they have installed a generator on one of the floors and have planned a swimming pool inside the building.
There are illegal water and electricity connections that have been reported to BBMP, BESCOM, and BWSSB. The building next door, completed recently, is also in violation,” alleged a resident. Locals say boosters are yet another problem.
“They are not only violating building bylaws but using facilities such as water supply illegally. One of the residents got a water bill running into thousands of rupees even though their house is not occupied,” said another local.
Complaints regarding the violation of building bylaws have been given to Fire and Emergency Services, Government of Karnataka as well.
Residents say building bylaw violations continue unabated in Nandidurg and Jayamahal Extensions and on Nandidurg Road. Evacuation in the case of an emergency will be next to impossible.
“Many buildings in the area are being constructed with extra levels and without setbacks. We have informed Fire and Emergency Services about an gas cylinder distributorship in Jayamahal Palace Grounds near 19, 6th Road. There are over 200 loaded cylinders in the depot at any given time, and residents live in constant fear of a major fire. The lanes are narrow, and many cars are blocking easy access all through the day and night,” the resident complained.
Another case of violation has been reported from Basavangudi. The complaint has raised the issue of fraudulent conversion of a public lane into private property by the builder.
“A building on Church Road has encroached a lane which is a public road. The lane has to be cleared by BBMP by demolishing the building. A public lane measuring 35 feet by 220 feet, with a total value of Rs 70 crore, has been encroached on. This is by builders and land grabbers who have conspired to forge and tamper with the city survey maps and connected land records to manipulate measurements,” lamented a senior citizen in the area.
The resident says a complaint has been raised, and an inspection was carried out by BBMP recently.
“BBMP has admitted that the building licence is not issued by them, and the entire building, therefore, is built with a fake licence, including the public lane,” said the resident.
