Unauthorized slum construction around the city is proceeding without control due to political and administrative issues. More than 3,000 illegal settlements, known as barangays, have been established in the city district, with thousands of acres developed and plots sold. This illegal activity is expected to cost the government significant amounts, and buyers are being misled into purchasing plots in these unapproved areas.
Deputy Registrars have been directed to refuse the registration of plots in unauthorized barangays, but these orders have not been effectively enforced. As a result, illegal housing estates are being built on agricultural land without proper land conversion or map approvals.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had promised to address this issue by issuing notices under Section 17(4) of the Karnataka Urban and Rural Planning Act, 1961, but no substantial action has been taken to stop these developments. Evacuation efforts have not yet been undertaken by the city district administration.
A total of 172 unauthorized barangays have been identified under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), with approximately 3,109 acres illegally developed. Over 1,000 real estate developers have constructed unauthorized settlements on more than 6,000 acres. Issues with Forms 9 and 11 ‘A’ have been noted, with accusations of falsified documents being used to facilitate illegal plot registrations.
