GBA prepares to demolish illegal structures, issues notices to property owners

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is preparing to demolish unauthorised buildings across the city and has started issuing notices to property owners who have constructed buildings without proper permits or have deviated from approved plans.

In one such case, Deepak Sriramulu has been served a notice to evict an under-construction five-story building built without authorisation at Mallathahalli 10th Cross, Ward No. 43, RR Nagar Zone. The authority has found that the building violated the approved plans and has asked the BWSSB and Bescom to disconnect the services.

Local engineers have visited the site and discovered illegalities in the construction. The notice has been issued stating that there is a clear violation of the Zoning Regulations of the Master Plan 2015 and Sections 240 and 248 of the BBMP Act 2020.

The landowners are protesting the notices, claiming that GBA officials themselves have made a mistake. They are saying that we have not violated any rules. However, the Greater Bengaluru Authority is determined to take action against unauthorised constructions and has asked the electricity and water supply agencies to disconnect services to such buildings.

The authority has already started receiving reports from all zones and is preparing for demolition drives. The owners of houses who have constructed unauthorized buildings are in fear as they face the possibility of demolition and recovery of costs from them.

In a recent operation, the Bengaluru Urban district administration had cleared encroachments near Rayasandra Lake in the Dodda Nagamangala lake area. The Greater Bengaluru Authority is now focusing on demolishing unauthorised buildings and constructions that have violated approved plans.

Deepak said, “We constructed the building according to the bylaw of BBMP, and they gave permission. We approached the court challenging the notice and was dismissed. Someone objected to the construction of five floor”.