BBMP proposes an amendment to the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976

If the civic body has its way, property owners who have violated building by-laws may have to pay a hefty tax. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed to double the property tax for owners who have deviated from the approved plan. Civic officials who turned a blind eye to the violations may be looking at jail time.

An amendment to the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, has been proposed and is currently pending with the State government’s Law Department. Once approved, the BBMP will identify owners violating by-laws and issue notices to them.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, G. Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister, said the collection of double property tax from those who have deviated from the approved plan has already been applied to all city corporations in the State, excluding the BBMP. “The thinking now is to include the BBMP, for which the KMC Act will have to be amended,” he said.

The Akrama Sakrama scheme, which is pending before the Supreme Court, allows property owners to regularise some deviations. However, the scheme does not cover violations of the approved building plan, he explained.

Tackling loopholes

Mr. Parameshwara said the BBMP had proposed a few other amendments to the KMC Act. To prevent violators of the approved building plan from getting a stay from the Karnataka High Court, the BBMP has proposed to collect 50% of the building value as a deposit before owners can approach the court challenging the notice issued by the civic body for violations. That apart, three months’ imprisonment has been proposed for BBMP officials who are found to have aided the violations.

BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said these measures will help bring in orderly development in the city.