Bangalore: Unauthorised constructions violating building bylaws in Bangalore will be regularised, Chief Minster H.D. Kumaraswamy has said.

The decision will come as a boon to lakhs of people within the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike.

Speaking to presspersons after a meeting with senior officials of the Palike and the Department of Urban Development here on Friday, the Chief Minister said that 25 per cent violation in the case of commercial buildings and 40 per cent for residential buildings would be allowed. The owners of the buildings would have to pay a penalty of 25 per cent and 40 per cent of the guidance value of the property to the Palike for regularisation.

On the regularisation of unauthorised construction properties built by the poor on a site measuring 20 ft x 30ft, Mr. Kumaraswamy said they would have to pay property tax to the Palike.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said property owners would be given 15 days' time to pay the penalty for regularisation of unauthorised constructions. Palike officials would be asked to issue orders in this regard. He made it clear that this moratorium would not apply to buildings where the deviation was more than what had been allowed.

On the criticism that government land recovered from encroachers was being sold at rates lower than the market value, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he had instructed officials not to encourage real estate agents. The Government would not allow any loss to the exchequer.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, who congratulated Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati for her victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, said this was a lesson to the national parties. These parties, he said, were under the arrogant impression that the people would accept whatever programmes they implemented.

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