Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, 1 August announced that the state government will resume residential plots allotted by government agencies and cooperative housing societies if beneficiaries fail to construct houses within five years of allotment. Speaking at the launch of the 'Freedom from Waste' cleanliness campaign near Hebbal Junction in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said vacant sites had become a primary driver of garbage accumulation and urban neglect across the city.

What the Policy Entails

Under the proposed measure, plot owners who do not begin construction within five years of receiving their allotment will face one of two consequences: the government will either impose double property tax on the vacant site or resume possession of the plot after refunding the amount paid along with applicable interest.

'We allot sites for people to build houses, not to keep them vacant for decades. There are people who have not constructed houses even after 20, 30 or 40 years. If a house is not built within five years, we will either impose double property tax or resume the site after refunding the amount paid with interest,' Shivakumar said.

The policy will apply to plots allotted by the former City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), municipal corporations, and cooperative housing societies.

The Garbage Menace Driving the Decision

Shivakumar linked the plot-resumption plan directly to Bengaluru's worsening solid waste problem. Vacant sites without compound walls, he said, routinely become unauthorised dumping grounds, contributing to the city's cleanliness crisis.

'Vacant sites without compound walls become dumping grounds for garbage. Site owners must ensure their properties are protected and kept clean,' he said, adding that plot owners bear responsibility for maintaining their land even if they are not personally responsible for the waste being deposited there.

Announcing stricter enforcement against illegal dumping, Shivakumar directed the police to seize vehicles caught dumping garbage without authorisation. 'We had earlier issued notices and installed surveillance cameras, but illegal dumping has resumed. I have instructed the police to seize such vehicles without hesitation,' he said.

The 'Freedom from Waste' Campaign

The campaign launched at Hebbal Junction is part of a broader push to give Bengaluru's cleanliness drive renewed momentum. Shivakumar appealed to non-governmental organisations, resident welfare associations, and civic groups to adopt roads and localities as part of the initiative.

'If NGOs and organisations are willing to take responsibility for four or five roads or a locality, the government will welcome such initiatives. Public participation is essential for the success of this campaign,' he said.

He acknowledged that waste management remains a persistent challenge across Indian cities and framed the campaign as a step toward systemic change rather than a one-off drive.

Green Initiative and What Comes Next

Shivakumar also hinted at a major green initiative for Bengaluru, with details to be unveiled as part of the government's proposed 100-day programme. The announcement was attended by Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Karnataka Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, MLA S.R. Vishwanath, and Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, among others.

With the BDA and CITB together having allotted thousands of plots across Bengaluru over decades, the resumption policy — if implemented — could have significant implications for long-standing allottees and the city's real estate landscape.