The shop owners of the various shops in the basements from the city met DC Jayram yesterday to ask him to stop the eviction process of their shops initiated by the Corporation.
Most of the shop owners said that they were forced to take shops in basement after their shops were demolished in the road widening in Khade Bazar, Maruti Galli etc.
However the DC said that rules are rules and due to shops in basement there is a severe parking problem in the city and termed these shops as illegal.
MLA Sambhaji Patil who also accompanied the delegation assured of a solution.
What the building bylaws say:
Basement floor
a) Basement floors shall not be used for purposes other than parking and for locating
machines used for service and utilities of buildings.
b) Strong rooms only in case of bank buildings. The area to be used for this purpose
shall be reckoned for FAR purposes.
c) Installation of Radiology and X ray equipment only in case of Hospital buildings
having a capacity of more than 50 beds without office. The area to be used for this
purpose shall be reckoned for FAR purposes.
As per the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976, Section 32 (1), a provisional order is issued asking building owners to vacate the basement area. Seven days later, if the basement is not free for parking, a confirmatory order is issued and authorities can start demolition or eviction of the shops.