Build house within 5 years or lose your govt-allotted plot: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said beneficiaries of government-allotted residential sites must build at least a small house within five years or face double property tax or loss of the plot.

The rule applies to sites allotted by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), Karnataka Housing Board (KHB), and other government agencies, not private lands.

Shivakumar said vacant plots are turning into dumping grounds for construction debris and garbage, tarnishing Bengaluru's image.

The five-year condition already exists in allotment terms, but enforcement has been lenient; agencies have often imposed penalties or granted extensions instead of cancelling allotments.

Delays due to pending approvals, financial difficulties, and other genuine reasons are considered on a case-by-case basis before penalties or additional time are decided.