RTI reveals 2, 858 Building plans sanctioned by BMC without Legal Authority

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) approved 2,858 buildings and plotted schemes without having the legal authority to do so, between 2015 and 2023, as revealed by an RTI query.

According to regulations, the power to grant plan approvals was transferred to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2015 for areas under its jurisdiction. However, BDA continued issuing approvals, violating established protocols.

Real estate experts and activists have questioned the legitimacy of these approvals, warning that in case of legal disputes, neither BDA nor BMC would be accountable.

Bimalendu Pradhan, a real estate expert who filed the RTI query, pointed out that under the 12th Schedule of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, such powers were assigned to municipalities. While Odisha transferred this authority to municipal bodies in 2015, BDA persisted in issuing approvals within Bhubaneswar.

The RTI findings further revealed that even BDA’s own housing projects within BMC’s jurisdiction were approved by the authority itself. Homebuyer Dipansu Hota criticized this as a clear violation, stating that BDA should have handed over responsibilities to BMC instead of continuing the practice.

Sources indicate that several significant public and private projects, including four affordable housing developments and adjacent public-private partnership projects, also received BDA approvals during this period.

Resident Rohan Patra condemned the practice, stressing that it could lead to major repercussions for both large and small projects. He called on the government to clarify the issue.

BDA Vice-Chairman N Thirumala Naik stated that the authority for plan approvals has been transferred to BMC. "We have followed regulations and completed the transfer of authority to BMC. Our role now is only to assist them with plan approvals," he said.