Building sanctions: BBMP draws flak
BBMP officials facing criticism for sanctioning building plans with our proper inspection.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2013-11-30 11:37 GMT
Bangalore: Officials in the BBMP town planning department were taken to task by former deputy mayor S. Harish and corporators for failing to verify false information given by builders and for being hand-in-glove with the builders when it came to sanctioning building plans.
Fuming over the BBMP town planning officials during the council meeting on Friday, Harish said that they are even capable of changing the average mean sea level of Bangalore, which is constant. Despite spot inspections by town planning authorities, flaws and shortcomings are allowed to creep into documents when sanctioning building plans.
“In fact, town planning officials are so smart that they prompt these builders to introduce false information to get sanction for the plan. Recording lesser mean sea level in the plan allows the builder to put up additional floors and make a huge killing. It (the officials) also helps them (the builders) to seek No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Airport Authority of India (AAI),” he said.
In case of Godrej Woodmans Estate and RMZ Latitude, false mean sea level has been declared to gain at least 17 to 18 metres extra, so that six extra floors can be constructed.
This will the companies at least Rs. 100 crore, Harish explained. When additional director, town planning (ADTP), Chowde Gowda, was summoned to explain the procedure of sanctioning the plans for the two projects, he said that the plans were sanctioned in 2010, before he became ADTP.
BBMP commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said that the sanctioned plan for RMZ Latitude has been withdrawn and the plan of Godrej Woodmans Estate will be revoked after following due procedure.
Lakshminaryan said action will be initiated against all the officials responsible for sanctioning the plan without verifying the property.
Harish, however, insisted that the plan be revoked immediately and a caveat be filed in the court giving no chance for the builder to approach the court to get a stay on the BBMP’s action.
Next: RS 5 crore released for emergency medical expenses
RS 5 crore released for emergency medical expenses
Bangalore: Following a hue and cry raised by corporators to release the medical funds to help those in distress, Mayor Katte Satyanarayana released Rs. five crore and assured to dispose off 4,000 pending applications.
Cutting across party affiliations, corporators said that releasing medical funds would be a good gesture to help needy and it would a good cause which earns accolades to city fathers.
Taking the initiative, JD(S) leader in the BBMP council R. Prakash said that over 4,000 applications seeking financial assistance have been pending for the last one-and-a-half years. All that the BBMP can do it extend medical assistance, he suggested.
Seconding him, Hosahalli corporator Dr Raju said that BBMP’s health condition is in bad shape. A small toke help will make big difference in their lives.
Former mayors D. Venkatesh Murthy and S. K. Nataraj too demanded the Mayor to release funds to the needy.
“All 4,000 applications will be disposed off in adherence with the laid down guidelines. Corporators who are doctors will be authorized to fix the quantum of money to be released to patients,” he said.
Next: BBMP promises to clear dues
BBMP promises to clear dues
Bangalore: Bowing the to threat to stop infrastructure works across the city from Friday by the BBMP contractors, Mayor Katte Satyanarayana assured to clear the pending bills for two months by coming Wednesday. Member of BBMP contractors association staged dharna demanding the BBMP to pay dues amounting to Rs 1,600 crore.
Hundreds of contractors gathered in front of BBMP council building and started beating drums even as the council proceedings was in motion. They also demanded justice for a contractor, Girish, who allegedly committed suicide citing that he had not received the pending bills from the BBMP.
Later, Mayor Katte Sathyanarayana assured the protestors to release funds.
Referring to Girish, Katte announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh from his funds to the family of the deceased.