Civic Issues
The fund-hit BBMP has been over-generous in granting TDR certificates for portions of land it takes from residents for public projects, mainly road-widening. But there isn’t much clarity on the rules governing them. As on May 30, 2011, Bangalore property ownersh as surrendered 38.24 lakh sq feet area land to BBMP Bangalore and the corporation [...] Continue Reading »
Records show BBMP Bangalore planted about 3 lakh saplings across the city but has no clue on their condition now. The BBMP’s green measures have environmentalists seeing red, with good reason. The civic agency’s huge expenditure on saplings has the hallmark of bad planning and worse execution. The BBMP expenditure on saplings is reflected on [...] Continue Reading »
Mumbai Tenants’ associations say that if the government wants to increase the supply, it should do so by levying a ‘vacancy tax‘ on vacant and unsold flats in Greater Mumbai. The associations’ call follows a recent proposal mooted by the Centre-draft Model Residential Tenancy Act 2011-to do away with antiquated rent control legislation and bring [...] Continue Reading »
With Wednesday’s Sampige Road widening saga, residents across the city need to be prepared for overnight demolition drives. BBMP Bangalore wants the private property of residents to expand roads. But it doesn’t have the money to compensate those losing parts of their precious homes. Hence it’s forcing TDR (Transferable Development Rights) for which the market [...] Continue Reading »
The Town and Country Planning Organisation under the urban development ministry lay down standards for design and construction of buildings. These ‘model building bye-laws‘ serve as a guide for states and urban municipal authorities to adopt in their respective local regulations for new construction. “You can go underground or over-ground (with multi-storeyed parking lots), but [...] Continue Reading »
The BBMP Bangalore began the demolition drive at Mantri Mall on Sampige Road as early as 8 am and razed the 4-metre stretch of encroaching ramp using JCB bulldozers. In the process, a six-foot fence with decorative lamps was flattened. BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah said “We had repeated discussions on this issue and had informed them [...] Continue Reading »
The Centre is of the opinion that the current legal system has discouraged landlords from reinvesting in their properties as rentals have been kept artificially low. The Model Residential Tenancy Act, 2011 prepared by the housing ministry is intended to replace archaic rent control legislations that capped rentals, resulting in landlords getting a pittance for [...] Continue Reading »
Several projects were taken up to rejuvenate Bangalore Lakes but with not much success. BBMP Bangalore has recently come up with an idea to maintain and rejuvenate Bangalore Lakes. Make them people’s lakes. Let the maintenance of the lakes be given to the residents around the lake. Ashwin Mahesh, adviser to the government and ABIDe [...] Continue Reading »
The Noida Jal department has been taking stock of arrears due from residents and is imposing fines on dues that have not been paid. Residents will also face the heat if they are not able to produce past bills, if required by the department. Recently, Noida Authority launched the web portal “Noida Jal”. At the [...] Continue Reading »
On Sunday, the water main attached to Upper Vaitarna has developed a 12-inch leak on its wall. As it is one of the main sources of water to the city, a 25% cut in the supply will be imposed on Fort, Marine Lines, Malabar Hill, Dadar, Parel, Bandra (east), (west) and Andheri (east), (west). The [...] Continue Reading »
