White Rose Layout residents hail crackdown on illegal buildings

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: In a decisive move to combat the surge in unauthorised constructions in White Rose Layout, Whitefield, the Joint Directorate of Town Planning (JDTP) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Zonal engineers have identified a total of 40 illegal structures.

Of these, 27 have already received notices, while 13 await similar action. Demolition procedures are set to commence, adhering to a 102-day timeline mandated by the High Court.

BBMP has escalated its efforts by deploying Marshals to patrol and crack down on further illicit construction activities. Many buildings are now adorned with hand-painted red notices, instructing owners to provide their Building Plan Approvals promptly.

Impact of illegal construction on the local community

Whitefield residents have long voiced their concerns about the deterioration of this layout, as well as neighbouring residential areas, due to unchecked illegal constructions.

The issues include raw sewage flowing on the roads, inadequate road infrastructure, the absence of water and sewage connections, buildings discharging raw sewage onto the streets, and the accumulation of waste in open ponds.

These problems pose serious health hazards, contaminate groundwater, and endanger the overall well-being of the community. George, a long-term resident who has seen the quality of life in the area deteriorate said, “I'm concerned about the unchecked illegal constructions that are impacting our layout and neighboring areas. Raw sewage on roads is causing health hazards and contaminating groundwater. Inadequate road infrastructure is hindering residents' mobility.”

Sandeep Anirudhan, activist and the conveyor of Namma Whitefield on X in a conversation with NewsTrail said, “Relentless daily drilling of one to two borewells has dangerously depleted groundwater levels to below 1,800 feet, pushing the area to the brink of water source exhaustion. This unregulated exploitation has resulted in a severe water shortage, leaving legitimate residents without access to vital water resources.”

The lack of decisive action by KGWA in response to these blatant violations raises significant concerns about regulatory enforcement and the adverse consequences on the local community.

Continuous borewell drilling and noisy mechanical excavators (JCBs) pose a risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss to residents due to noise levels surpassing the 55 dB limit.

Another resident, who moved to Whitefield for the “luxurious lifestyle” like it is portrayed, shared his disappointment over the overpopulated area where even basic amenities seem like a luxury.

BBMP's role in preventing violations

BBMP officials face criticism for their reactive approach to violations instead of proactive prevention. Builders disregard floor limits, constructing excessive floors in designated areas.

Land coverage violations are rampant, often exceeding 90-95% in these constructions. Whitefield residents anticipate building demolitions, hoping it deters future bylaw violations.

A joint team from Town Planning and Ward Engineering identified 40 violations in White Rose Layout, issuing notices to 27 properties, with 13 pending due to owner unavailability. Notices have halted construction on non-compliant buildings.