Check ground reality of DLF apartment project, HC tells BMTF

The High Court on Monday ordered the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) to conduct an inspection to ascertain the ground reality of residential apartment blocks being constructed by DLF Southern Homes Pvt Ltd and M/s Suadela Constructions Pvt Ltd on Begur-Hulimavu main road here.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the BMTF to file a report in this regard in two weeks.

A man named Anil Agarwal has filed a petition in the High Court, contending that the builders could construct only four floors as per the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) since the width of the road was just 9.6 metres. But anticipating approval, he said, the builders had widened the road to 24 metres after the then BDA commissioner approved construction of 30 floors.

While the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) approved widening of Begur-Hulimavu road to 18 metres, that permits only 18 floors as per the new FAR, the BDA allowed the DLF to construct 30 floors. Agarwal pointed out widening the road to 24 metres that would lead to encroachment on the storm water drain, government land and even some private property.

During the hearing, the counsel for the BBMP told the High Court that the road had been widened and only asphalting remained. The bench ordered the BBMP to complete the asphalting but extended an earlier order that status quo be maintained on the project. It also directed the builders not to sell any flats until further orders.

The case first emerged in 2012 when the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) registered an FIR against BDA officials and questioned some of its former commissioners for approving the project. Agarwal, the petitioner, made senior IAS officers Bharat Meena, K M Shivakumar, Pradeep Singh Kharola, the BDA, the BBMP and the State government respondents in this case. The bench said it would adjudicate the matter based on the BMTF’s report and adjourned the hearing.