Bengaluru: The govt-allotted residential sites lying vacant across Karnataka could soon face scrutiny, with the govt warning that unused plots may be taken back if beneficiaries fail to build homes within the stipulated period.Chief minister DK Shivakumar Saturday said beneficiaries of sites allotted by agencies such as the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) and other govt bodies must construct at least a small house within five years.Launching the GBA’s ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign at Hebbal junction here, Shivakumar said vacant plots have increasingly become dumping grounds for construction debris and garbage, besides being misused for activities that tarnish Bengaluru’s image. “We can’t allow people to hold onto allotted sites vacant for years despite the availability of many financial schemes to take up construction. Many such plots are turning into dumping yards. At least a small house should come up within five years of allotment. They can always expand it later by demolishing the initial one. If no structure comes up within the stipulated period, they might have to pay double property tax or we can also take back the site,” CM said.The CM clarified that the move applies only to sites allotted by govt agencies and not to privately owned lands. The announcement does not introduce a new rule. The five-year construction condition already forms part of the allotment terms of the BDA, KHB and other agencies. However, enforcement has so far been relatively lenient, with authorities generally imposing penalties, collecting additional charges or granting extensions based on individual circumstances instead of cancelling allotments.Officials said agencies currently examine each case on its merits. Delays caused by pending approvals, financial difficulties and other genuine reasons are often considered before deciding whether to levy penalties or grant additional time. A BDA official said a significant number of allotted sites, particularly in layouts where roads, water supply and drainage infrastructure have already been provided, continue to remain vacant beyond the prescribed five-year period.“Until now, we had the discretion to decide whether a penalty should be imposed or whether an allotment should be resumed based on the circumstances of each case. If the govt’s direction is implemented strictly, taking back vacant sites may become mandatory in several cases,” the official said.Officials of the KHB said their existing practice is also to impose penalties on defaulters. However, if the govt’s proposed enforcement is formally notified, agencies may have to resume long-vacant sites instead of continuing with the current system of fines, notices and extensions.
