The #SpotTheViolation Campaign will crowdsource information on all violations taking place in the Whitefield Ward. Citizens are welcome to report violations that they spot or discover around them, anonymously. 

As you are all aware, the spate of civic violations has turned Whitefield, which was once a peaceful and clean neighbourhood, into a ruined neighbourhood, a victim of unplanned growth and widespread lawlessness. The resulting overcrowding is putting severe strain on amenities, and also leading to an influx of illegal commercial activity and footpath encroachments; the increasing density of population is also destroying the peace and quiet in the area, and ruining the quality of life. 

The Citizens’ Ward Committee will collate the information of violations submitted by citizens online, and forward them to the authorities, and follow up for action under the law.  The purpose is to restore law and order in our neighbourhoods.

Important:  

• Please include clear Picture / Video preferably taken using a GPS camera app or a Time stamp camera app.  If you dont have a pic, dont worry, Accurate location map should also do.

• Submit GPS Location or Clear Address of location, or both  in every entry. 

• It is mandatory under law to obtain a Building Plan Approval to construct a building.  Construction without a building plan approval makes the construction unauthorised/illegal.

• Under the BBMP Bye laws, it is also mandatory that the approved building plan is displayed prominently on the outer wall of the site, next to its gate, for public scrutiny, prior to commencement of construction.  Commencing construction without doing so makes the construction unauthorised.

• Under construction buildings have to comply with Construction timings and pollution norms. 

• Adequate covering has to be installed on all sides to prevent dust pollution to neighbours.

• If there is a Plan approval displayed, then please check if the plan complies with BBMP Bye laws, in terms of the FAR/FSA authorised for the site, as per the actual road width next to the site. 

• If the authorised approval is faulty, then it needs to be reported.

• If the builder is constructing in violation of the approved building plan, that also needs to be reported.  Common violations are 

  • reduced offsets/setbacks, 

  • more floors than approved, etc.,

• Construction timings have to be abided by to avoid noise and light pollution to neighbours.  

For detailed Construction Timings information click button:

• Faulty Plan Approvals:  While issuing FAR for a building plan, the existing road width is considered. This has to be not only the existing width next to the building, but the minimum width of the road, along its entire length.   

• Just widening the road next to the building does not qualify. Nor does the road width indicated in the RMP as a future project quality.  If these are considered for issuing FAR for the building plan, then it is faulty Building approval.  Then the building plan itself needs to be reported.

• Deviations:  

  • Builders often deviate from the approved plan by reducing the offsets and setbacks from the boundary to gain a few extra inches, but destroying the light and air quality of their neighbours as well as their own buildings.  

  • Builders also cheat blatantly, by building extra floors and square footage, than what is approved, or permitted.

• Commercial activities are not permitted in Residential areas

• Commercial activities are not permitted on roads whose existing width is less than 40 feet.

• Timings violations:  Under Labour laws, work timings are limited to 9 PM.  Most shops and establishments violate the timing rules.

• No one but the authorities are permitted to build, modify anything on the roads and footpaths

• Prominent violations include structures, illegal boards, flag poles, religious structures, fan club banners, etc., 

• Modifications carried out to the road or footpath to permit driving on the footpath, etc., 

• Modifications to create a slope on the footpath, to access adjacent buildings or plots, which makes it dangerous for pedestrians to walk on them.

Permission has to be taken from the Karnataka Groundwater Authority. 

We shall be soon sharing more details on each of the various violations, rules,Acts, and how to obtain information, how to file complaints, etc., 

It is advisable to install a GPS / Time Stamp Video app on your phone to take pics and videos that have a time and date stamp as well as GPS location. This is helpful in case the pics or videos are to be used as evidence in a complaint or a legal case.  

• On laptop/desktop:  Open the website maps.google.com, identify the location, double click on the location, and copy the location from the Share Location option.

• On phone: Open google maps app, identify the location, long pressing the location and copy using the Share option.

While it is not mandatory to have a Sahaaya complaint, to fill the form, we do highly encourage that a complaint be filed on the official complaint mechanism, and the REF no. be inputted in our form.  

This is so that the institutionalised Complaint Mechanism is strengthened.  We wish to see that the Govt’s complaint mechanism is made more transparent, robust and accountable. 

Steps for filing a BBMP Sahaaya complaint:

• On laptop/desktop:  Open the website https://nammabengaluru.org.in/home/department.  Follow instructions on the page. 

• On phone: Download the BBMP Sahaaya 2.0 (Namma Bengaluru) App, from play store. Use it to create the complaint. 

If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding this campaign, please email us at WhitefieldWardCommittee@gmail.com 

Presentation on #SpotTheViolation Campaign made at Mahadevapura Zonal Commissioner Meeting