BBMP all set to begin property conversion

By Y Maheswara Reddy I NT

Bengaluru: If the recent meetings and discussions are anything to go by, it seems the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is all set to complete the process of clearing all the hurdles to convert B-Khata properties into AKhata properties as assured by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai while presenting the State Budget in the Assembly.

“The State chief secretary held a meeting recently to discuss the issue of B-Khata properties. The process of commencing the conversion of BKhata properties into A-Khata properties will begin shortly after availing the administrative permission from the government,’’ said BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta.

The BBMP Chief Commissioner has said the decision on fixation of fee for conversion of B-Khata properties into A-Khata properties would be taken soon. “As of now, we are working on inter-departmental matters that were discussed during the meeting with the State chief secretary,’’ he said.

While presenting the state budget, the chief minister announced that the government would take up measures to speed up the conversion of six lakh properties recorded in the ‘B’ register into A-Khata properties.

The Chief Minister had said that over six lakh property details were recorded in the ‘B’ register in the BBMP limits and the issue would be examined in the light of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act and the Karnataka Land Revenue Act. Most of the buyers prefer to buy A-Khata properties as these documents are genuine and are verified by the authorities concerned. Many buyers hesitate to buy B-Khata properties since these are considered constructed or developed in violation of byelaws. In 2008, the civic body stopped issuing A-Khata certificates to properties in violation of byelaws. The BBMP is expecting to generate more than Rs 1,000 crore by converting BKhata properties into A-Khata properties.

Residential sites at many layouts and 110 villages that were added into the BBMP more than a decade ago continued to be recorded in the B register since the BBMP is yet to collect the development charges from the property owners.

With a case pending in the court on issuing A-Khata certificate for the properties recorded in the B register, the BBMP has not taken a decision on issuing A-khata certificate to the properties recorded in the B register. Many are of the opinion that the state government has to implement the conversion of BKhata properties into A-Khata properties as early as possible as it will benefit the government or the BBMP and the property owners.

“The authorities should and must implement the scheme scientifically without giving scope for violation of rules and regulations to convert B-Khata properties into A-Khata properties.

“The government should not make these types of announcements keeping the forthcoming elections in mind. It will bring revenue to the state government or the BBMP,’’ said Sai Datta, a social activist.

Forum for People’s Collective Efforts General Secretary MS Shankar said the detailed proposal, rules, regulations and SOP should be first put in public domain for public comment. “Government needs to ensure that there are no discretionary powers vested in this conversion process, and obviously if found will pave the way for corruption,’’ he said.