Karnataka146;s new urban rules face protest

The rules that came into force on September 15, 2007, after being passed by the state legislature in September 2006, is to be enforced from December 14 by urban local bodies across Karnataka.

The scheme applies to all unauthorised development or constructions that have come up after the approval of the master plan and zoning regulations for respective towns and cities. As per the rules, out of the funds collected by the urban bodies for regularisation 8220;50 per cent shall be utilised for the development of parks and open spaces. The remaining 50 per cent shall be utilised for provisions of infrastructure, civic amenities, lighting, drinking water, drainage system and for any other infrastructure8221;.

The Congress has called for scrapping of the scheme in Bangalore by Nov 30 while the CPI and CPM have staged protests at the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike BBMP over the past couple of days, seeking withdrawal of the scheme. The Left parties have called the scheme an attempt to exploit ordinary citizens, while the big fish escape harassment. 8220;We will stage a massive protest in front of the BBMP office on December 1 if the scheme is not withdrawn by Nov 30. We will present a memorandum to the Governor,8221; Congress MLA and former Bangalore Development Minister Ramalinga Reddy said here on Tuesday.

Reddy called the scheme a conspiracy of the previous Government to help big builders and land developers at the expense of small land and households. 8220;The bill was introduced in the legislature close to midnight when no one was present to raise objections,8221; another Bangalore MLA, K Chandrashekhar, said. 8220;There was no one to oppose the Bill and the ruling JDS-BJP combine approved it in quick time,8221; he added. 8220;The victims of the scheme will be the law-abiding middle class and lower middle class people who neither have political clout nor money,8221; member of a local NGO 8212; Save Bangalore Committee 8212; V N Rajashekhar stated. The commissioner of the BBMP has described the regularisation scheme as being 8220;pragmatic8221;.

8220;The fee prescribed for regularisation is reasonable. It has been mandated that the regularisation fee shall be utilised to develop infrastructure. Thus, the violations that this legislation seeks to regularise would be adequately compensated by enhanced infrastructure and development of open space,8221; commissioner S Subramanya said.

With the state officially coming under President8217;s rule from Wednesday, this issue is expected to be the first that will have to be addressed by the Governor.