After complaining against the delay in issuing khata and plan sanctions by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the builders, under CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association- Karnataka), offered to work with the civic agency towards a “slum-free city”.
At the interaction meeting between the BBMP, CREDAI and Bangalore Builders Association here on Tuesday, Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda welcomed their offer to work on slum redevelopment on the lines of that taken up in Mumbai.
Plum locations
Probably not having learnt lessons after the bitter experience from the controversial deal with Maverick Holdings to construct quarters for economically weaker sections (EWS) in Ejipura, the BBMP has now unwittingly invited the builders to redevelop slums, most of which are in prime locations of the city.
CREDAI chairperson Nagaraj R. suggested that the BBMP enter into a joint venture and take up redevelopment of a slum on a pilot basis to create a model that can be emulated. “The joint venture could be with CREDAI instead of an individual builder,” he said.
Jayashankar, another builder and CREDAI member, endorsed this and said builders would be willing to join hands with the BBMP to develop slums.
Profit, of course
Commissioner Gowda later told reporters no developer would get into such projects without expecting to come out with a profit. “However, it is the question of the larger good rather than BBMP losing land. At least poor people will get to lead a much better life. We will work together with CREDAI and develop a model that can be emulated in the city rather than borrowing from the Mumbai model blindly,” he said.
Delay in getting khata
Earlier, several builders and developers complained about the inordinate delays in getting khata, plan sanction, violation of zoning regulations and bureaucracy in the BBMP. They said they were open to paying betterment charges provided the rate fixed by the BBMP is reasonable. They suggested that the plan sanction process be simplified and the BBMP set up a single window system for the same. The khata could be issued at the time of property registration. “Right now, we have to go to nearly 2,000 tables and approach 20 different departments for approvals. Road cutting permission should also be granted along with plan sanction.”
About cutting down on bureaucratic hassles, Commissioner Gowda said that the number of officials in the Town Planning Department would be reduced to two in each zone.
Once the Urban Property Ownership Records Project is implemented, the Revenue Department and BBMP would be linked and all changes would be updated online immediately. He added that the betterment charges would be tabled before the BBMP Council this month end.
‘Stick to plan’
Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy said if the developers stuck to the plan that had been approved and did not violate the bye-laws, they need not anticipate any “trouble” from either BBMP officials or politicians. Deputy Mayor L. Srinivas, Ruling Party Leader N. Nagaraju, Opposition Leader M.K. Gunashekar, JD(S) Floor Leader Thimme Gowda and several senior BBMP officials were present.
