The high court on Thursday said action taken by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) against unauthorized constructions “should be seen on the ground and not remain just on paper”, while granting the city civic agency three months’ time to follow up on its action plan.
“Our only effort is to sensitize you,” a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi said after going through an affidavit filed by BBMP chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta.
The bench wanted to know if there were any cases involving VIPs so that exemplary action even in one or two such cases would set an example for 1.3 lakh buildings, which were surveyed in the city’s eight zones as of November 30 this year.
Of the 1.3 lakh buildings surveyed, the BBMP issued notices to owners of 16,286 buildings asking them to submit documents to prove that their buildings are not unauthorized constructions.
Appearing for the BBMP commissioner, senior advocate DN Nanjunda Reddy informed the court that three buildings found violating the rules have been demolished between December 1 and 4. As many as 1,712 replies from building owners have been received. He said they would pass the final orders after due process of the law.
In Bommanahalli zone, 75,008 buildings were surveyed and 4,779 were issued the notices. In RR Nagar, of the 38,147 buildings surveyed, 1,687 notices were issued. Of the 10,619 buildings surveyed in the west zone, 2,701 notices have been issued so far. At least 75 buildings in Dasarahalli zone have been issued notices, seeking further details about the buildings.
The court will hear the case next on March 15 and asked the BBMP chief commissioner to appear in person.
