Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday announced that the state government will reclaim residential plots allotted by agencies such as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the erstwhile City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), civic bodies and cooperative societies if allottees fail to construct houses within five years. The government, he said, will refund the amount paid for the plots along with interest.

The Chief Minister said the policy is intended to prevent vacant plots from turning into garbage dumping grounds and stressed that beneficiaries of government-allotted sites have a responsibility to build homes and maintain their properties.

"Whether it is a BDA or a Corporation site, the owner must ensure it is kept clean. Therefore, a house must be constructed within five years of obtaining the site. If it is not, either double tax will be imposed or the site will be resumed," Shivakumar told reporters after launching the "Freedom from Waste" campaign near Hebbal Junction in Bengaluru.

He said the government had decided to introduce the measure because vacant plots that remain undeveloped often become dumping grounds for waste.

Responding to a question on whether the government would actually reclaim plots where houses had not been built, Shivakumar said, "There is no other option. We will have to do it. We allot plots for people to build houses."

The Chief Minister noted that several allottees had kept their sites vacant for decades without undertaking any construction.

"We will refund the money they paid, along with interest, and resume the plot. Those who obtained plots from CITB, BDA or cooperative societies have a duty to build houses. How can they leave the plots without even constructing a compound wall and allow them to become garbage dumping sites? Even if they themselves are not dumping garbage there, they are responsible for protecting their property," he said.

Reiterating the government's commitment to improving civic cleanliness, Shivakumar said property owners must also play their part by ensuring their vacant sites are maintained and do not become places where garbage is dumped.