• I Paid A Bribe
  • 13 years ago
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CONVERSION OF LAND FROM aGRI STATUS TO RESIDENTIAL STATUS THROUGH THE OFFICES OF BMICAPA AND THE oFFICES OFtEHSILDHAR AND OF DC BANGALORE (KEMPAGOUDA CIRCLE)

Reported on November 13, 2011 from Bangalore , Karnataka  ι Report #3402

I wanted to change land status from Agri to residential status. This is because my land is not cultivable. It is a hilly terrain.Land is in bangalore outskirts.I approached the tehsildar office. Met Tehsildar. He simply asked his PA to guide. Pa put me on to a lady clerk who wore more gold than her own weight. She said it would cost rs.60000/acre for the tehsildar office. Similar amount likely in Dc office. After going through the land location etc, she asked me to turn up few days later, On reaching a few days later, she said that my land does not come under BDA, or BIAPPA, BMRDA etc. She said unless it is known the case can not be taken up. She said that I should find out under which authority did it fall under. After running to many offices, I came to know that my land fell under Bangalore-Mysore infrastructure corridor area planning authority. (BMICAPA).
I located the office in the Multistory buildings next to the office of lokayuktha.
On approaching the Asst director, he said that I need to get an NOC from the KIADBA (KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY)
I went to their office at least 6 times. Every time they said we can not find your land or survey number. Then one clerk approached me. He said i find you coming here too often. I will take you to a concerned clerk. he will fix it. The clerk who was introduced simply asked the survey number and the area of the land. He pulled out a circular with attachments. Ran through the listed survey numbers and beamed at me."Your work is done". I was elated.Here is a official so thorough and sincere. Before my thoughts could crystallize, he said " we need to talk, come to the hotel outside after 10 minutes". He met me at the hotel. "I will get you the NOC in 4 days and would cost you Rs10,000/acre. After little haggling Rs.8500.00 was finalized. He gave me the papers after 4 days. All that he did was to issue a letter to state that as per comprehensive development plan the particular survey was not under any acquisition for industrial purposes. This bribe no:1.
I went to the Asst director , o/o.BMICAPA. He beamed."Congratulations, I can now take up before the next monthly meeting that decides to recommend change of land use, If it is passed then we shall send it to minister. Pl come after a fortnight- he said. Fortnight later: The officer said, "Good news. The the committee has agreed in principle. I have to prepare the note and send it to them for signatures. Then there is a small good will expenditure. The total cost will be Rs.1 lac/acre. You may give half now the balance when the case goes to the minister with various recommendations. I said I cannot afford.THe officer said " this is mandatory and that he is helpless. Incidentally the bribe amount turned out to be more than what the GOvt charged as development charges. (No development has been initiated for the last one year is a different matter). I got the change of land use letter after 3 weeks of payment of bribe in two installments.I thought the conversion has happened. I was wrong. I was told the converting powers are with the DC, and that i should approach their office.
DC office guided me to the Tehsildar office. The Tehsildhar office to the Revenue inspector. (RI).RI checked up my papers. He said"lets go to the hotel for coffee. I was afraid of the coffee cost. He came to the point straight. "Look, the file has to go through the TEhsildhar in addition to many others. WE have a fixed rate. It is 1 lac/acre. He added that he has no powers to change it. I asked if it was final. He said as far as Tehsidhar's office is concerned it is YES. Then!!!. He said a similar AMOUNT IS REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH DC AND HIS OFFICE. he ALSO ADDED TO SAY " IF YOU WANT YOU CAN TRY"
i Left THE DISCUSSION OPEN AND TRIED TO GO IT ALONE. i COULD NOT GO PAST THE FIRST CLERK. short OF OPEN ABUSE, THEY DO EVERYTHING. in A MONTH At Least 100 ACRES MUST BE GETTING CONVERTED. l EAVE IT TO THE reader TO ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF BLACK MONEY IN CIRCULATION IN ONE DC OFFICE ITSELF.

I could raise the money by pleadging the land which I ventured to convert for residential use

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