The Karnataka Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has issued guidelines regarding the procedures for obtaining design approval for layouts constructed on converted lands that are located within the limits of gram panchayats but outside designated local planning areas.
As stated, in accordance with Section 199(B) of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025, the relevant authority—either the Gram Panchayat or any government-designated authority—must secure prior approval of the layout plan from the competent planning authority that holds jurisdiction.
This approval is essential prior to the issuance of a new ‘khata’ or Property Identification (PID) number for building sites designated for construction, as indicated in the statement. Furthermore, developers are mandated to submit an application in Form 1, accompanied by the requisite documents, to the gram panchayat as outlined in Regulation 4(1).
According to the approved layout plan, layout owners are obligated to transfer, at no cost, through a registered relinquishment deed, all areas designated for road widening, roads, parks, parking areas, civic amenities, public utility spaces, and other essential facilities to the respective Gram Panchayat, as per the department’s directive.
Additionally, under Regulation 11, layout owners are required to execute all development works within the approved layouts in compliance with existing regulations and in alignment with the approved plans and certified estimate schedules from relevant departments, including Panchayat Raj engineering, rural drinking water and sanitation, ESCOM, among others.
The department has also instructed that gram panchayats situated outside local planning areas must ensure that design approvals and development activities on converted lands within their jurisdiction are conducted in accordance with the established guidelines. “They are also responsible for maintaining all necessary documentation related to the layouts and taking appropriate measures to ensure that such properties are included within the tax framework,” the statement concluded.
