Over 500 representatives from among apartment owners attended an interaction with Karnataka’s Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda in Bengaluru on July 15.

The event was a public consultation on the draft Karnataka Apartment Ownership & Management Act (KAOMA) 2025, chaired by the Chief Minister, at Professor U. R. Rao Bhavan, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Sankey Road.

According to Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF), the turnout was a clear reflection of how keenly apartment communities await a modern legal framework for apartment ownership and management in Karnataka.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar assured apartment owners in Karnataka that his government stood firmly with residents in resolving long-pending property and civic issues.

He informed that the proposed Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2026 has been drafted to protect the interests of homebuyers, and ensure complete ownership rights. He presented the salient features of the draft KAOMA 2025 Bill.

The government invited further feedback on the draft Bill until August 5, which may be sent by email to kaomablr@gmail.com. The Chief Minister assured the gathering that all feedback will be duly deliberated upon, and improvements incorporated to the extent possible, and that the draft Bill will be tabled in the upcoming session of the Karnataka Assembly for legislative action.

Interacting with representatives of apartment associations, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to addressing challenges faced by apartment owners through dialogue and consultation rather than litigation.

“The voice of the people must become the voice of the government. We want to resolve issues through dialogue. Let us all work together as ‘Team Karnataka’,” Mr. Shivakumar said.

Emphasising that owning a home is the dream of every family, he said the government’s priority is to ensure that people, who invest their life savings in purchasing homes, enjoy hassle-free ownership and property rights.

He assured that the new law is being framed solely for the benefit of property buyers.

Highlighting governance reforms, the Chief Minister said Karnataka has brought about an ‘e-khata revolution’, with nearly 26 lakh e-khatas issued (Bengaluru has around 40 lakh properties), making it one of the largest such initiatives in the country.

He acknowledged concerns over delays in the transfer of property documents by some developers, and assured residents that the government would engage with builders to ensure a smooth and transparent transfer process.

He said that the government is addressing Bengaluru’s infrastructure challenges through projects, such as the Cauvery Phase-V water supply scheme, groundwater recharge initiatives, improved underground drainage, and the 132-km Bengaluru Business Corridor (Peripheral Ring Road).

Mr. Shivakumar anticipated the decentralisation of governance through five new city corporations would help improve civic administration and speed up resolution of local issues in rapidly-growing areas, including Electronic City and the airport region.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to making Bengaluru a global city, he said international investors continue to view the city as a preferred destination due to its strong growth potential. He added that the proposed second airport would further strengthen Bengaluru’s position as a global investment hub.

Responding to queries from residents, the Chief Minister said the government is working towards making rainwater harvesting mandatory in apartment complexes as part of sustainable urban development initiatives.

Ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, Byrathi Suresh, and K.J. George, BDA Chairperson N.A. Harris, and KPCC Apartment Cell chairperson Rajeev Gowda were present at the interaction.

Published – July 15, 2026 03:22 pm IST

A file photo of the Rajya Sabha; Karnataka has a history of electing leaders from outside the State to the Rajya Sabha.
| Photo Credit: ANI