logo
As PG accommodation menace grows, citizens urge BBMP to shut them down

As PG accommodation menace grows, citizens urge BBMP to shut them down

BENGALURU: Unregulated paying guest (PG) accommodations continue to haunt Bengalureans. Though the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had laid down detailed guidelines for the PGs to follow, there seem to be more flouters than those who fall in line. On one side, BBMP is closing down unauthorised PGs, on the other side, new ones are mushrooming, complaining citizens, who are demanding a regular crackdown.
In its latest drive against unauthorised PGs, nine of them were sealed in the city during the enforcement drive at Mahadevpura.
Banumathi, a resident at Kumaraswamy Layout, said that every nook and corner of her area is flooded with PGs. 'The majority of the PGs are nothing but flats and old buildings that are added with the dormitory beds, a washing machine and a family to cook and maintain the accommodations. They do not have any valid permission to operate PGs. Due to the illegal operation of the PGs, residents are getting disturbed. Parking, smoking, drinking, blockage of manholes, the problems by the PGs are umpteen', she complained.
Founder member of Bengaluru Praja Vedike, NS Mukunda, said, 'Bengaluru is brimming with people from other districts and states. They all need accommodation, and those who come to Bengaluru, especially women, prefer PGs as they are affordable and safe. While there is demand for PGs, there are hardly any who take all the necessary permissions and infrastructure needed to operate them.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BBMP rolls out faceless e-Khata system to boost transparency, curb middlemen
BBMP rolls out faceless e-Khata system to boost transparency, curb middlemen

The Hindu

time9 hours ago

  • The Hindu

BBMP rolls out faceless e-Khata system to boost transparency, curb middlemen

In a bid to bring transparency and efficiency to its e-khata services, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has rolled out a new faceless, online e-khata system. The initiative aims at eliminating the role of middlemen, reduce corruption, and ensure time-bound disposal of khata-related applications across the city. Modeled around the Income Tax Department's faceless assessment system, the BBMP's new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) ensures that applications are randomly assigned to officials through a round-robin system, irrespective of the zone they are deputed to, and applicants will not know which officer is handling their case which eliminates direct contact and any sort of influence. The system follows a First In, First Out (FIFO) principle, ensuring applications are processed in the order they are received, and the officers give no preferential treatment. Each officer will receive a batch of 50 applications, and new applications will be auto-assigned as the previous ones are processed. Any delay beyond three days will trigger automatic reassignment of the application to another officer using round-robin system. Further, if officials fail to act on at least one application within 36 hours of login, they will be blocked from receiving new assignments until the Zonal Joint Commissioner grants a special approval. Applications delayed in two consecutive rounds will be reassigned to the special zonal team supervised by Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Zonal Commissioner, and the Special Commissioner (revenue.) Any significant delay or rejection will be automatically escalated to an appellate authority, in compliance with Rules 4 and 5 of the BBMP (Property Tax Assessment, Recovery, Management) Rules, 2024. The Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) will be responsible for communicating such decisions to citizens. The BBMP officials said the system will be implemented through dedicated software starting immediately, although some operational timelines may be adjusted during the transitional period.

Lokayukta Pulls Up Civic Body Over Stray Dog Menace In Bengaluru
Lokayukta Pulls Up Civic Body Over Stray Dog Menace In Bengaluru

NDTV

time17 hours ago

  • NDTV

Lokayukta Pulls Up Civic Body Over Stray Dog Menace In Bengaluru

In a scathing indictment of civic negligence, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice BS Patil has pulled up the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for its failure to tackle the growing menace of stray dog attacks in the city. The sharp remarks came following an investigation into the death of an elderly man named Seetappa, who was fatally mauled by stray dogs last week. Justice Patil convened a high-level meeting on Monday to examine the incident and assess BBMP's handling of the situation. Senior officials from the civic body, including zonal commissioners, joint commissioners of Yelahanka and East zones, directors and deputy directors of animal husbandry, medical officers, and the Special Commissioner for Health, were summoned. Members of the Nethravathi Colony Residents' Welfare Association, where the incident occurred, were also present. During the meeting, the Lokayukta revealed findings from an independent probe led by Dr. Vamshikrishna, Superintendent of Police, Urban Division. The report confirmed that Seetappa died due to injuries sustained from a dog attack and held BBMP officials accountable for negligence. Photographic evidence and eyewitness accounts further corroborated the claim. One of the key lapses highlighted was the BBMP's failure to establish observation homes for aggressive dogs, despite prior instructions from the Lokayukta. Officials admitted that while an observation facility in Yelahanka is under construction and expected to be completed within 15 days, it would only be capable of housing 40-50 dogs. Justice Patil called this wholly inadequate and directed that such facilities be set up in every ward to identify, monitor, and isolate aggressive stray dogs effectively. Residents from Nethravathi Colony raised alarming concerns during the hearing, stating that dogs had attacked over 40 people in the area since January 2025. In at least 14 of those cases, formal complaints were filed. Adding to the outrage, residents who attended the meeting alleged that the BBMP, after capturing these aggressive dogs, would release them back into the same locality, leading to repeated attacks. Startling figures presented by the BBMP's Health Department further underscored the crisis: 2,60,514 dog bite cases have been reported across the state since January 2025. In the last week of July alone, 10,212 new bite cases were recorded. A total of 13,831 deaths due to rabies have been reported this year, with 8,878 in Bengaluru city and 4,408 in rural Bengaluru. Justice Patil concluded the meeting by announcing that strict action will be initiated under Section 13 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act against the officials found responsible for any negligence in dealing with this menace. He also directed zonal and joint commissioners of the civic body to identify and take disciplinary action against any negligent staff.

Bengaluru PG security gaps persist despite BBMP guidelines
Bengaluru PG security gaps persist despite BBMP guidelines

Deccan Herald

timea day ago

  • Deccan Herald

Bengaluru PG security gaps persist despite BBMP guidelines

Bengaluru: A recent sexual assault complaint filed by a college student against her paying guest (PG) owner has once again exposed serious lapses in safety and accountability across Bengaluru's PG August 2024, the BBMP issued stringent guidelines to improve security in PGs. These included CCTV cameras at all entry points, 24/7 security personnel, minimum 70 sqft of personal space for each resident, fire safety clearance, and a valid FSSAI licence for those serving a year later, many PGs continue to flout these rules with a 23-year-old postgraduate student staying in a PG on Palace Road, said there was still no security guard posted at her accommodation. 'We have raised multiple requests, but the owner insists the manager is enough. The manager leaves by 7 pm, and there is no staff presence at night. During emergencies, we have no one to reach out to,' she resident from Ejipura narrated how a man stayed in a room shared by two women for almost two days before being caught. 'There are strictly no men allowed, and we even have a security guard. But without CCTV, we do not know how or when he entered. The owners do not seem to care,' she check When DH contacted 10 PG accommodations across Bengaluru posing as a prospective tenant, five did not ask for any government ID..A PG in Srirampura accepted a PAN card, which does not mention the residential address. Two PGs in Indiranagar offered double-sharing rooms without requiring any identification. A Maruthi Sevanagar PG demanded a doubled deposit — Rs 14,000 instead of Rs 7,000 — when the caller said they did not have Aadhaar. The facility had no night security and no working CCTV system..A PG on New BEL Road, housing around 70 women, requested the Aadhaar of a Bengaluru-based guardian rather than that of the PGs had CCTV cameras only at the entrance, not across floors or shared must do its bit: Police.A senior police officer said the City Visitors Information Record Management System is regularly updated and that patrols around PGs are prioritised. 'We also conduct meetings with PG owners to discuss safety measures,' the officer senior policeman said that the BBMP must do more to enforce the rules it created. 'We are trying our best by strengthening patrolling. But unless the BBMP ensures compliance, these gaps will remain,' he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store