Tag: Karnataka

IndustryLatest Stories

Karnataka to Target Developers Overloading Power Grid

Representative image BENGALURU: A significant number of households may soon see improvements due to a crackdown on large apartment blocks and commercial projects that electricity officials claim are straining the city’s electrical network. Following complaints from resident welfare associations (RWAs), the government has opted to take action against developers of ‘self-execution (SE) projects’ who have neglected to establish required electrical infrastructure while consuming substantial power. The state’s energy department instructed the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) on Friday to take measures against developers who have not set up dedicated substations and the necessary electrical infrastructure, as required by Karnataka…

Latest StoriesResidential

Karnataka Forms Panel to Address e-Swathu Issues, B-Khata for Rural Properties

Representative AI image Lakhs of rural property owners are facing difficulties in obtaining e-Swathu (e-Khata) records due to ongoing technical and server issues. In response, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B Khandre announced the establishment of a five-member committee to tackle these challenges. In a written directive, Khandre highlighted that the e-Swathu applications are pending due to software and server issues. He instructed the formation of a committee led by the RDPR Secretary, D Randeep, which will include the chief executive officers (CEOs) of Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Kalaburagi, and Belagavi districts. This committee is tasked with submitting its recommendations…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Karnataka government allocates 500 acres for Bidadi township

Representative AI image BENGALURU: Despite opposition from farmers and political parties, the Karnataka government has issued the final notification for acquiring nearly 500 acres in three villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project, located near Bidadi. This action demonstrates the state’s commitment to advancing one of CM DK Shivakumar’s most significant urban development initiatives. The township, which is estimated to cost over ₹20,000 crore, aims to create a large work-live-play urban hub on Bengaluru’s outskirts. Shivakumar describes it as “India’s first AI City,” envisioning a forward-looking township that would transform urban living. The…

Latest StoriesResidential

Karnataka Sees Rise in Women’s Home and Land Ownership

Representative AI image BENGALURU: The percentage of women owning houses and land in Karnataka has nearly doubled over the past five years, indicating a shift in family decision-making and attitudes towards wealth and security. This trend follows a rise in women’s investments in property, either independently or collectively. According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS) conducted in 2023-24, approximately 29.5% of households in Karnataka have at least one female member who owns a house and/or land, either independently or jointly. This marks a significant increase from 16.2% in the previous NFHS-5 (2019–21). Notably, female/joint ownership in rural areas stands…

IndustryLatest Stories

Supreme Court Ruling Delays Smart Meter Rollout in Karnataka

Representative Image BENGALURU: The government’s initiative to implement smart meters for new electricity connections across the state has resulted in significant administrative hurdles, exacerbated by confusion regarding the Supreme Court’s mandate for mandatory occupancy certificates (OC). Smart meters are anticipated to minimize transmission losses, enhance billing accuracy, and facilitate real-time monitoring of electricity usage. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling, aimed at reinforcing building compliance standards, has inadvertently impeded progress in modernizing the power sector. The program, launched nearly a year ago, was initially targeted for all new and temporary electricity connections in the jurisdictions of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom)…

CommercialLatest Stories

Karnataka Reopens Tender for Mangaluru IT Park After No Bids

MANGALURU: The state government has reopened bidding for its proposed IT Park in Mangaluru for the second time in five months. The initial round attracted no bidders, raising concerns over the Rs 135-crore project intended for public land. The IT Park is planned on 3.2 acres near Blueberry Hills Road in Derebail as part of the state’s ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative. The tender is being managed by the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation (KEONICS). Initially opened on December 15 and closed a month later without interest, the second round of bidding is currently ongoing and will conclude on May 22. Reports…

Latest StoriesResidential

Karnataka Order Delay Leaves Homebuyers Frustrated

BENGALURU: Homebuyers and local representatives are eagerly awaiting a proposed meeting of MLAs to discuss the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill. This proposal, introduced during a recent Assembly session in March 2026, aims to convene all stakeholders to talk about the draft Bill. Despite the anticipation, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has yet to initiate the meeting, even after 40 days have passed. Homebuyers urge the state government to expedite the enactment of this law to protect apartment owners’ rights. Sameera Bharadwaj, a resident of Prestige Lake Ridge Apartments, Uttarahalli, expressed frustration at the delays: “The postponement of this…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Karnataka HC Denies Builder’s Appeal on Fire Safety Violations

BENGALURU: High-rise buildings containing compact “pocket” apartments, irrespective of their luxury features, cannot remain operational if they present any danger to public safety—especially for residents and neighboring areas. This ruling came from the high court while rejecting the writ appeal submitted by Vishnu Sri Builders and Developers, Bengaluru. The court emphasized that private interests must be secondary to public welfare and the common good. A panel of Justices DK Singh and TM Nadaf noted that regulatory actions by local authorities are justifiable when necessary to preserve public health and safety. On September 3, 2025, a single bench ordered that the…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

34% of Karnataka’s 72 Lakh Homes Lack Tap Water: CAG

BENGALURU: Karnataka has not provided tap water connections to 24.5 lakh rural households—34% of the goal of 72.1 lakh—well past the March 2024 target, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) presented in the legislative assembly on Tuesday. The audit, covering 2019 to 2024 in seven districts, highlighted deficiencies in planning, execution, financial management, and water quality monitoring, which undermine the mission’s goal of achieving Har Ghar Jal. At the state level, inconsistent departmental participation impacted synergy with initiatives like Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. While some villages proposed…

IndustryLatest Stories

Karnataka bans conversion of plots under five guntas for farming

BENGALURU: The government has banned the conversion of land use for agricultural plots of five guntas or less, citing misuse of family partition rules. In a circular issued last month, the land survey department instructed deputy commissioners to identify such plots upon receiving land use conversion applications and to forward the files to deputy directors of land documents for further processing. The initiative follows the observation of a trend where landowners split farmland into smaller parcels, typically below 5 guntas, for easier registration, eventually selling them as revenue sites for profit. Many landowners sought permission to convert these small parcels…