Does Bangalore Development Authority site guarantee roads and water? Commissioner’s remarks fuel debate

Bengaluru: Does buying a site in a Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) layout guarantee basic amenities such as roads and water supply? The question triggered a debate after a video of BDA commissioner P Manivannan’s interaction with Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) site allottees went viral.The video, taken from a BDA progress review meeting on NPKL and other projects, was shared by Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar, who sarcastically remarked that the commissioner’s “strange interpretation deserves a standing ovation.”During the meeting, Manivannan is seen asking officials to compare the original project estimates when the sites were allotted with the additional expenditure incurred now towards creating infrastructure such as roads and water supply works. An allottee responded by drawing a parallel with the cost of constructing a house, asking how much more it would cost today compared with that when the sites were allotted nearly a decade ago.Manivannan replied that allottees could hold BDA accountable only for what is explicitly mentioned in the sale deed. “The sale deed does not mention water and roads,” he said. When an allottee argued that a “habitable site” inherently includes basic civic amenities, Manivannan responded that such interpretations could only be made by courts.The remarks drew criticism online after the video surfaced. Responding to the controversy Friday, Manivannan said his comments had been taken out of context. “The roads being discussed were additional roads not envisaged in the original plan,” he said, adding that he would meet Kumar to explain the issue. “Our work is known to everybody. I have a lot of regard for him. I think somebody has misled him,” he said.As the video gained traction on social media, BDA issued a clarification. It said the discussion on roads was specifically about requests from NPKL allottees for additional underpasses and improved connectivity along the major arterial road passing through the layout. While the road already has six rotaries, allottees had sought more underpasses at select locations.BDA clarified that it has completed the internal water supply and drainage infrastructure within the layout. However, the actual water supply will be provided by BWSSB. It said BDA’s role is to create the infrastructure within the layout and coordinate with BWSSB and other agencies to ensure water supply reaches residents. The authority maintained that the commissioner’s remarks only referred to BWSSB being the agency responsible for supplying water and not to BDA’s obligation to create the necessary infrastructure.BOXKhata conversion: West Corpn orders probe into bribery claimBengaluru: Bengaluru West City Corporation has ordered an inquiry into allegations of harassment and bribery levelled against GBA officials after videos posted by a woman on social media went viral Thursday.In the videos posted on X, the woman alleged that officials at GBA’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar office verbally harassed her and her family over processing an application for conversion of a property from B-khata to A-khata. She claimed that officials had sought a bribe to approve the application and later rejected it after she refused to pay.The videos show a heated exchange between the woman and officials inside the office. The woman is heard alleging that she had been seeking an acknowledgement for her application for nearly three months despite making the required payment. She also claimed that officials asked her and her husband to step out of the office premises. At one point in the video, she is seen requesting officials not to touch her husband, stating that he had undergone a transplant. She further alleged that abusive language was used against her.In a subsequent post on X, the woman alleged that Bengaluru West City Corporation joint commissioner Aarthi Anand rejected her application after she spoke out against corruption.Bengaluru West City Corporation commissioner Rajendra KV told TOI that an inquiry has been initiated into the matter.“As per the initial information, it is learnt that the citizen was seeking conversion of a govt land from B-khata to A-khata. According to revenue records, the property is a govt land and hence the joint commissioner rejected the application. However, I have sought a detailed report from the joint commissioner. After receiving the report, it will be forwarded to the govt,” he said.The commissioner added that officials are yet to record the citizen’s version of the bribery allegations.