There is some good news for citizens who own revenue sites and sites in layouts that have not been approved by any planning authority. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to issue ‘A’ Khata to such site owners once they pay betterment charges.
A resolution to this effect was approved by the BBMP council on Wednesday and will soon be sent to the government for approval. However, collection of one-time betterment charges/ fee will commence only after the government approves.
The BBMP had previously resolved to collect betterment fee only from converted and undivided sites in the city. A circular was recently issued by the BBMP directing the officials to collect betterment fee — Rs. 200 per square metre (sqm) in old areas and Rs. 250 per sqm in newly added areas — from converted and undivided site owners.
However, many councillors decried the move stating that only developers would benefit and not owners of sites of small dimensions, most of whom belong to the middle class.
By resolving to collect betterment charges from revenue sites and unauthorised sites on converted land in the city, the financially-starved BBMP hopes to rake in at least Rs. 250 crore. BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said the civic body could not take any decision that goes against government’s decisions and orders.
“Since the government has already framed rules and regulations for the Akrama Sakrama scheme, the BBMP cannot issue a circular on collection of betterment charges from revenue sites without consulting the government
Directions Meanwhile, the BBMP has issued a circular directing officials to collect betterment fee from property owners who have submitted an undertaking to pay the fees once it is fixed.
Revenue officials have been instructed to collect the fees when such property owners approach the BBMP for building plan approval, commencement certificate and occupancy certificate. If officials fail to collect the fee, it would be recovered from them, the circular states.
