How the Sarkar helps its class with BDA sites

Between 2007 and 2009, the state government has allotted more than 350 sites to 'eminent' citizens across the state under G-category. A majority are for politicians, government officials and staff.

In response to an RTI application filed by Citizen Matters, the BDA has listed out the 364 allottees who were given BDA sites under G-category during 2007-08 and 2008-09. Karnataka law allows BDA plot allocations on the fast track (no need to wait in a queue) to ‘eminent’ individuals under a rule called G-category.

Incidentally, in the RTI application, Citizen Matters had specifically asked ‘for particulars for eminence’ for all people who were allocated these sites. In the BDA’s reply, the entire question of what was ’eminent’ about the allottees was ducked. Instead the BDA sent a list of 364 allottees. The list was a re-statement of a part of BDA’s own annual report. Here’s a summary.

Of the 364 plots, 200 were given to government-related allottees – politicians, officials and their staff – given by the government itself!

MLAs, ex-MLAs, ministers, MPs and ex-MPS were given 146 plots (typically 50x80s). Fifty-five plots were given to people in (or retired from) government service (typically 40×60 and 40x30s) – from drivers of ministers and typists to officials such as a Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) member.

And a whopping 89 allottees were listed with ‘no documents on file’ or their details were left blank. The BDA does not know who they are.

Allottees Number of sites
Members of Parliament (MP) and ex-MPs 11
MLAs and ex-MLAs 106
MLCs 17
Ministers and ex-ministers 12
Documents not filed  89
Government servants (includes state and central government officials retired officers) 27
Government servants (staff including drivers, typists, computer programmers and so on) 28
House wives 16
Agriculturists 8
Social workers
5
Others (like cine artists, doctors, army officers and so on) 4

Most of the layouts where these sites were handed out included areas like BTM IV stage, HSR layout, HRBR layout and OMBR layout.

Also to be noted is the plot size given to each type of allottee. While a majority of the MLAs, MPs and ministers were given either 40×60 sites or 50x80s, the other government servants like drivers, typists and so on were given 30×40 sites.

There seems to be a pattern even in the areas where allotments have been made. While the politicians have received sites in areas like HRBR Layout, HSR Layout and so on, the government staff like stenographers and housewives have largely been given sites in areas like BTM IV Stage, possibly indicating a conscious method of allotting sites based on the real estate market.

Here’s  a scan of one page of allottees. Click on the image to enlarge.

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