BBMP to take up satellite imagery survey to detect illegal constructions in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Following the building collapse at Babusabpalya in Horamavu Agara last week, which claimed nine lives, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to take up satellite survey of illegal constructions in the city. This comes after a rap by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar on how illegal constructions were allowed.

As part of the survey, the BBMP will first check sanctioned building plans and permits and in the second phase, the staff will conduct physical surveys and collect photographs and videos. For this, the Palike is considering a new app. In the third stage, the BBMP will check satellite imagery if any buildings have been constructed on vacant land in the last one year.

In case there has been any construction, the Palike will check for any illegalities and the zonal commissioners have been empowered to seize buildings. The BBMP is taking the help of satellite imagery as the BBMP limits extend to 800 sqkm and the survey can be completed faster. For this, the civic body will take the help of the  Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC) and compare satellite images from a year ago and now.

The Palike is preparing a list of all building plans that were sanctioned in the last two years and if any construction has been taken up in the last one year, officials will visit the site and examine the documents apart from conducting physical checks for any illegalities.