BBMP chief orders utilities to deny services to buildings without occupancy certificates

In a bid to tackle rampant building violations in Bengaluru, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath has instructed Bescom and BWSSB not to provide electricity, water, or sewage connections to buildings lacking an occupancy certificate (OC). This directive, issued in letters dated January 9, 2025, also calls for the withdrawal of existing connections to unauthorized structures flagged by the civic body.

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The move follows a Supreme Court order from December 2024, which mandated that utility services be extended only upon submission of completion or occupancy certificates. The court emphasized that utilities must cooperate with local authorities in addressing unauthorized constructions, warning of disciplinary action against officials who fail to act.

The directive comes months after an under-construction building collapse in East Bengaluru last October, which killed eight laborers. In its aftermath, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar tasked the BBMP with inspecting unauthorized structures. However, progress has been slow. Out of over 26 lakh buildings in Bengaluru, BBMP has surveyed only 2,500, identifying 840 with significant deviations and 1,660 as entirely unauthorized.

Bescom and BWSSB officials have expressed concerns, stating that they face pressure from building owners and urging BBMP to address violations at the construction stage.