The Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission-2 (KARC-2), headed by the former Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar, has recommended conversion of B-khata sites to A-khata with collection of a land conversion fee, a fine, and a compounding fee to the planning authority concerned by issuing suitable rules under Section 76F of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act.
The commission submitted its second and third reports to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. It has recommended immediate online approval of building plans for up to 2,400 sq.ft. on the basis of self-declaration and certification, and payment of a fee through an online application.
It recommends constitution of coordination committees under the chairmanship of zonal commissioners in the BBMP, and city commissioners in other corporations; amendment to the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act and the Karnataka Municipalities (KM) Act with regard to B-khata in urban local bodies on the lines of B-khata in the BBMP and 11-B khata in gram panchayats.
At present, BDA, urban development authorities, KHB, and KIADB have been issuing khatas for sites allotted by them in the limits of gram panchayats (GPs), depriving property tax to gram panchayats. It recommends that gram panchayats be allowed to collect property tax and maintain khatas for the sites allotted by BDA, KHB, KIADB and other agencies in their limits.
It said various taxes and penalties prescribed under provisions of the KMC Act, 1976, and the KM Act, 1964, should be revised in line with the increase in the inflation index.
It recommends the formation of metropolitan planning committees as per provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act in all the cities having a population more than 10 lakh in their metropolitan areas, including in Hubballi–Dharwad, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, and Belagavi.
To reduce the work pressure on the Chief Commissioner, some of the powers of the Chief Commissioners of the BBMP, such as approval of budgetary works up to ₹2 crore and transfer of Group C employees within the zone, be delegated to the zonal commissioners.
Similarly, it recommends delegation of the powers of the BDA Commissioner, such as with respect to land acquisition, to Deputy Commissioners, and powers related to leave encashment, medical bill reimbursement, and payment of utility bills to the secretary.
