The official alarm has been raised by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for owners in the city. A war has been declared against unauthorized constructions and deviations from building plans which the GBA has recently made a concerted attempt to put this order back into operation. Should you have made your business or home, or built it without a sanctioned plan, or have made illegal modifications, take note.
The GBA’s New Enforcement Plan
Once a high-level meeting for coordination was hosted by GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, the authority has agreed to move beyond warnings to an action on the ground. The GBA has also directed the creation of special Task Forces responsible for the monitoring and prevention of unauthorized construction. A separate task force will be constituted in all five city corporations under the GBA’s control, ensuring that no part of the city is unattended.
How the Task Force Will Work
The newly established teams will not be left to wait for complaints they are moving to a proactive “search and identify” mode:
- Door-to-Door Inspections: Task Force members will take a physical tour of neighborhood areas and commercial zones to find suspected violations.
- Document Verification: Owners shall be ordered to provide Sanctioned Building Plans, occupancy certificates and other documents as appropriate on the spot.
- Immediate Notice: When a building was found to be unauthorized or vastly different from the approved plan, a legal notice will be issued.
- Sealing and Demolition: In extreme violations the Task Force has been designated by the GBA to seal the building, or initiate demolition work to stop any further construction or occupation.
Why Now?
The crackdown follows pressure from civic activists and the High Court, who pointed to how unregulated constructions were putting pressure on Bengaluru’s infrastructure by sewage overflows, narrow roads and creating fire hazards. The GBA will act on construction early on, rather than waiting for construction to finish, further complicating attempts by owners for legal stays.
Checklist for Property Owners
To not get stuck on the wrong side of the law, you need these things at your command:
- Approved Building Plan: Verify the physical construction and construct according to BBMP/GBA-approved blueprints.
- Khata Certificate: Make sure your property is registered properly.
- No Deviation: If you have added floors or balconies above the legally permissible level you risk penalties.
“Our objective is to prevent illegal buildings from coming up in the first place. Early action reduces safety risks and legal complications for everyone.” GBA Official Statement.
