Building work continues despite lack of permission

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

If the ongoing construction of a multi-storied building at Shanthinagar ward is any indication, it seems the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities are not serious either to stop the alleged illegal construction or penalise the owner for constructing the building without valid permission.

A five-storied building is being constructed on Swasthi main road, third main road of Shanthi Nagar. The assistant executive engineer of Shanthi Nagar sub-division has issued two notices to the owner. He had issued a notice on December 20, 2021 to Madhubala, the property owner to produce all the documents, including building plan, safety and stability certificate, licence copy, commencement certificate, of the property within 15 days of receiving the notice.

However, the owner is alleged to be continuing the construction without complying with the BBMP notice. The BBMP assistant executive engineer had said that the building would be inspected on February 10 and the construction would be deemed illegal if the owner failed to produce the documents. However, on March 1, the construction was still in progress. When contacted, the BBMP engineer said that a third notice would be issued to the owner on March 2.

The engineer had said in the notice to the owner that the BBMP received some complaints from the public against the illegal construction of the building. With no reply from the property owner even after 45 days, the engineer had issued a notice again on March 2, 2022 stating that he could not find the copies of the sanctioned plan and the licence in the BBMP office. “You are advised to produce the documents such as the sanctioned plan, commencement certificate and property tax receipts within three days of receiving the notice,’’ said the engineer in the notice.

Kamlesh, the husband of Madhubala, said that he was out of station and would discuss the issue after returning. Kamlesh’s business partner Shafique Ahmed said: “All issues have been resolved. Our legal team is collecting all the necessary documents to submit to the BBMP.”