Bescom (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company) has stepped up to support the BBMP’s (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) efforts to curb unauthorised constructions in Bengaluru. In a move to enforce compliance, Bescom issued a circular on Friday, instructing its chief and superintendent engineers to disconnect electricity supply to such establishments.
The circular, dated April 5, outlined the directives given by BBMP to Bescom following a letter from the Palike’s managing director. This letter, dated January 1, 2025, referred to a Supreme Court order from December 17, 2024, which mandated actions to be taken to address the issue of illegal constructions in the city.
As part of this initiative, Bescom has been directed to ensure that “A Khata” and building map sanctions are verified for properties that are still under construction or yet to be constructed before granting temporary electricity connections. The guidelines also require Bescom to disconnect power supply to any building that has received a notice under Section 248(3) of the BBMP Act 2020.
Furthermore, before providing permanent electricity connections, Bescom must confirm the occupancy or completion certificate of any building or house. To facilitate this, BBMP will provide a dedicated console on its online map sanction software to help Bescom verify the authenticity of these certificates.
In addition, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has instructed all ESCOMs to adhere to the Supreme Court’s order from December 2024, ensuring that Bescom aligns with the legal directives.
This collaborative effort between Bescom and BBMP is a crucial step toward addressing the ongoing problem of unauthorised constructions and maintaining compliance with city regulations.
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