“ If you want to bring about reformation, start at the top than the message travels faster, others down the line start towing the guidelines “ A novel and pro-active step has been initiated by BBMP authorities by advertising a full page cautioning the buyers regarding non sanction of Westend Heights. Originally the project was approved as 4 floors by BDA but DLF did not seek approval to change its FSI to 18 Floors and dropping the rates to rock bottom.

After Chennai consumer activism against DLF, this full page advt. is a body blow to DLF. It will also send signals for all other builders to mend their ways and not to cheat the public not to solicit bookings before all the approvals are in place. The govt. of the day should now go one step further in bringing all the mandatory sanctions under one roof for any builder, directly under the control of chief Minister. What are the mandatory sanctions required :

1) No Pollution certificate, 2) BWSB Approval 3) BESCOM Approval 4) BBMP approval 5) BDA approval 6 ) NAAI approval 7) NH approval 8) Land conversion 9) Bank approvals 10 ) No litigation declaration by builder

The FULL PAGE advertisement cost is purported to be recovered from the developer, which is unprecedented. I hope the BBMP authorities continue the good work by releasing a series of advertisement cautioning the public against errant builders and recovering the cost of advt. from the builders. This step will be creating a history in the annals of govt. activism to bring corporates to tow the guideline and not flout it.

The stock market has been gungho on real estate of late and if such violations are reflection of times. Whether bad publicity is also treated as good for the brand is an issue to ponder.

A positive step has been taken by govt. of Karnataka will others follow suit ? What is your take friends on the subject matter ?

Disclaimer : This article is not meant to cast apersion or influence customers and stakeholders of the corporate. It is meant for debate of the community members only.

BBMP : Issues a clarification on 17/5/09 that DLF has lodged revised plans for 18th Floor, at whose cost it has not been mentioned. Anyways if all is ok, why not it issue that all plans are approved as per new regulations. This is mysterious.