Builder breaks bylaws with impunity

The tragic deaths of three persons in the collapse of an unauthorised multi-storied building under construction on Someshwaranagar in the city has focused attention on similar violations of law by builders.

The wanton defiance of law and the breath-taking dereliction of duty by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP), which leads greedy builders to construct more stories than they are given permission for, is starkly evident at Nandidurga Layout.

In flagrant violation of building bylaws of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976, a builder is constructing a five-storied building, although he has secured permission for three storied construction.

According to the BBMP records, MA Mohammed Amanullah was given permission to construct ground plus two floors on property number 4 (old no. 71), fourth road. The plan was sanctioned on September 22, 2011, and is valid till September 21, 2013.

“The construction is in violation of building bylaws. The builder has been intimidating the residents of the locality who raise their voice against the illegal construction. He bribes the BBMP engineers whenever they visit the construction site,” said a resident, who did not want to be identified.

The irony is that the blatant violation of building by-laws is taking place right under the nose of the BBMP, so to speak. The BBMP ward office exists a stone’s throw away from the construction site, but the BBMP employees, obviously aware of the situation, have not bothered to inform their higher authorities about the illegality.

In response to repeated appeals made by a few residents, the assistant engineer of Vasanthnagar sub-division of the BBMP visited the spot and issued a notice to the builder on July 25, asking him to show cause within seven days stating why action should not be taken against him.

The builder did not bother to give a reply to the notice and has been continuing the construction work.

“I have asked him to stop the construction work. I have specified the violation of building bylaws in the notice. I will send my people to the spot for inspection,” said Geetha, assistant engineer, Vasanthnagar sub-division of the BBMP.

When contacted, the BBMP commissioner M Lakshminarayana expressed surprise over the building bylaws violation.

“I will instruct the engineer concerned to visit the spot and ensure that the owner stops the construction work immediately,” said Lakshminarayana.