Bangalore: In a huge setback to the beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's discretionary quota for residential sites/plots in Bangalore, the Justice B Padmaraj Commission has asked the state government to cancel the allotments. A total of 313 sites/plots were allotted to various people under the Chief Minister's quota (also known as G category sites) between 2004 and 2011. The commission was constituted on the orders of the Karnataka High Court.
The prime sites or plots worth crores were allotted to individuals under this quota by the previous chief ministers N Dharam Singh, HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yeddyurappa. The decision was challenged by the civic society alleging blatant violation of rules. The Karnataka High Court also came down heavily on this practice.
The sites in well developed or prime localities in Bangalore were allotted to MPs, MLAs, MLCs, political party leaders, bureaucrats, police officers, journalists and even the personal assistants, cooks, drivers and peons of powerful political leaders for a peanut over the years.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) allotted these sites under 'G' category. Many people have already taken possession of their prized property and even built houses there. Some have even sold their sites in the open market for 10 times more money.
The state government is yet to cancel the allotments. According to state government sources, the state Cabinet will take the final decision after studying the recommendations.
There are even allegations of 'G' category site beneficiaries influencing the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to bring an amendment to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Act 1976, to save their sites. Following a petition filed by advocate Vasudev Murthy, the high court had directed the state government to form a committee to look into the matter and submit a report. All the political parties had registered their opposition to the recommendations of the report, for the fear of losing prime sites.
According to the BDA rules, the person who already owns a site or a house in Bangalore is ineligible for the allotment under 'G' category. But, majority of the beneficiaries own a site or house in the city.
The committee report has pointed out that the sites of those persons who have made false declaration will be forfeited. For those allottees that have sold or built houses on those plots, they have been recommended to pay double the current market price of the site.
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