BBMP, BDA lock horns over Occupancy Certificates

BANGALORE: Refusing to return 589 files related to Occupancy Certificates (OC) to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) yielded no answer when asked about former charge that the latter had no authority to issue Occupancy Certificates.During the reply session of the BBMP budget, Commissioner Siddaiah said that the Corporation is the only civic body which is authorised to issue OCs.He also added that BDA had refused to return the OC files saying that they have permission from the State Government.Siddaiah said that provisions in the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act have specified that BBMP has the sole right to issue OCs and collect compounding fees.BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena refused to comment when BBMP wrote asking him to return OC files.Siddaiah said that the decision to take any form of legal action will arise only after sufficient discussion.