In a significant move to address urban neglect and encourage faster housing development, the Karnataka government has declared that residential plots allotted by various state agencies, including the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and cooperative housing societies, will be reclaimed if allottees do not construct a house within five years of taking possession. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced this decision during the launch of the 'Freedom from Waste' cleanliness campaign in Bengaluru. The policy aims to discourage the practice of holding vacant plots for decades, which often leads to them becoming dumping grounds for waste and debris. The government plans to refund the amount paid by the allottees, along with applicable interest, before resuming ownership of the sites. This measure is also intended to curb speculative land holding, ensuring that residential land is utilized for its intended purpose and made available to genuine homebuyers. Furthermore, authorities may impose double property tax on beneficiaries who fail to comply with the five-year construction deadline before considering reclamation. This initiative, while not entirely new in terms of its underlying condition in allotment rules, signifies a stricter enforcement approach to improve land use efficiency and accelerate urban housing development across the state.
