Good News: Govt prepares to extend B Khata conversion beyond GBA limits

Bengaluru, Oct 24:

The state government is preparing to extend the B Khata to A Khata conversion scheme to areas outside the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Thursday.

Speaking after a review meeting with officials from 12 local bodies in the Bengaluru Urban district, Shivakumar said a detailed survey of areas that may be merged with the GBA in the future has been ordered.

“Bengaluru is expanding rapidly, and areas under the BMRDA will eventually become part of the city. To avoid future complications, I have instructed officials to prepare a master plan in coordination with the Public Works Department,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said preparations are underway to extend the B Khata regularisation drive to local bodies under the Bengaluru Urban district jurisdiction.

“Several panchayats and municipalities on Bengaluru’s periphery will come under the city’s administration in the coming years. We are mentally preparing for that transition. Hence, officials have been told to make preparations for converting B Khata to A Khata and to adopt a uniform system of tax collection,” he said.

The DCM also directed local authorities to clamp down on illegal constructions and to ensure strict adherence to building and layout approval norms.

He added that properties in these outlying areas would soon be digitised, which would help in identifying encroachments on stormwater drains and streamline property records.

Officials said the survey of potential GBA expansion areas is expected to be completed in the coming months, paving the way for regularisation measures similar to those being rolled out within the city.