Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force chief R.P. Sharma, who has been cracking down on unauthorised constructions and building deviations in the city, is building a house in an unauthorised layout at Doddagubbi village without obtaining proper approvals from the Bangalore Development Authority, alleged former Mayor P.R. Ramesh on Tuesday. The BDA confirmed Mr Sharma has not obtained permission for the building plan, he said. “The Doddagubbi panchcayat too does not have the copy of the sanctioned plan. It is clear that Mr Sharma has been violating rule, while he is supposed to be aware of the rules,” criticised Mr Ramesh. But, he said, the BMTF chief has been harassing the people who are building their houses in the BBMP jurisdiction, especially in the newly added areas. “There has been a tug-of-war between the BBMP and the BMTF, and the people are caught in the cross-fire,” he added.
“The state is using the BMTF as a tool to keep the BBMP under its grip. The BMTF cannot work independently. BMTF personnel are misusing the act and fleecing the public on some or the other pretext. The BMTF is not sticking to the guidelines and has failed to provide a report on its style of functioning to the Urban Development Department,” he alleged. “When a Right To Information application was filed before the BMTF on the progress of its investigation into the multi-crore works scandal in the BBMP, Mr Sharma has given an evasive reply, saying the reports have been gutted in the fire accident in the BBMP,” he said. Another former mayor Ramachandrappa said since the government has been delaying issuing khatas and implementing the Sakrama scheme, the public are forced to build houses to protect their properties. The government should pass the Sakrama bill to enable owners to build houses after obtaining approvals from the BBMP, he said.