Bangalore Development Authority asks for affidavits from plot owners seeking plan approval

By: Pavan Kumar Pateel

BENGALURU: Site owners of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) seeking to build houses now have to submit affidavits undertaking that they will bear the responsibility of availing temporary water, power and sanitary connections among other basic amenities.

The move of the developer, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), comes in the wake of its failure to complete civil works, underground drainage, water supply and electrification works in the layout.

The BDA allotted sites in 2016, but failed to provide basic facilities. The Phase I allottees’ dream of having their own homes remains unfulfilled due to lack of basic amenities in the layout. The unreasonable riders for construction is now only making the allottees more angry. Recently, the petition committee of the assembly headed by the deputy speaker and officials from the BDA and urban development department (UDD) had an inspection of the layout. After that, officials of the BDA initially geared up to start the work, but now the momentum has slowed.

Site owners of the NPKL are appealing to the BDA to provide basic infrastructure. “We are all set to construct our dream house. BDA had allotted sites to us, but forgot to provide amenities. After the petition committee’s visit, we hoped that BDA would kickstart the works. Now, the BDA is trying to push its responsibility on us to get the plan sanctioned,” said Surya Kiran AS, joint secretary of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout Open Forum, confirming that he has got several complaints from plot owners about the BDA’s affidavit demand. Kiran said NPKL has also written to the BDA about the affidavit rider to get building plan approvals.

“When I wanted to get my building plan approved, BDA officials asked me to give an affidavit undertaking that I will be responsible for getting temporary water, power and sanitary connections. They also told me that I can get the road whitetopped or relaid if I want. I have paid the market value for the sites to BDA and paid all taxes. Asking us for affidavits isn’t fair. If so, what is the use of paying all the charges to BDA? Instead of having all these trouble it is better to go for rented houses,” M Ashok, a site owner, said.

Another site owner Bhavya said: “We are paying taxes, betterment charges and so on to the BDA. Private layouts are providing better facilities for their site owners. The affidavit is nothing but BDA’s way to save its skin in case the matter goes to court.”

Rajesh Gowda, commissioner of BDA, told TOI that he had no clue about the affidavits. “Work at the layout is going on; it will take at least one-and-a-half years to complete. Now it is not feasible to construct houses at NPKL. We had received the request to relax the construction clause. But giving an affidavit to get plan approval is new for me,” he said.