Bengaluru: Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) faces the prospect of being hit with more compensation claims after a few Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) allottees successfully fought their case before the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) and got favourable orders.As of April, site owners have filed 38 complaints against BDA, and the real estate regulator has disposed of around 30. The majority were related to claims of compensation for the delay on BDA’s part in providing basic amenities, including road, water, drainage, and electricity connections.The vast housing project, located between Mysuru Road and Magadi Road in Yeshwantpur assembly constituency, has about 29,000 plots. The delay in project completion has left more than 10,000 primary allottees and others who bought plots in auctions in a tight spot. NPKL tops Rera’s list of projects that have defaulted. The list mentions Dec 31, 2021 as the date on which it was supposed to have been completed. The allottees are livid the project is still under development nine years after the first round of allotment. Rera and the appellate tribunals have ruled that BDA is a promoter, ignoring its claims to the contrary, giving a breather to thousands of allottees. Many are now making a beeline to the regulator with complaints in hand and seeking to claim compensation from BDA for the interest paid on loans for the extra years, for their continued stay in rented homes, and for having to pay a higher rate of interest after banks downgraded their home loans to site loans and levied a commercial rate of interest with retrospective effect. Banks require home loan borrowers to build houses in two years, failing which they are downgraded to commercial loans. BDA to challenge ordersThe civic authority, officials said, is planning to challenge the Rera orders in appellate courts. But as per the mandatory pre-deposit requirements in the Rera Act, a promoter must deposit 30% of the penalty imposed if it wants to challenge the Rera award. This might be an issue for BDA.Meanwhile, allottees see a ray of light in the Rera orders. Many TOI spoke to said they waited for about two decades before they got this site, and another 10 years means they are into old age now. Many also said they became ineligible to get home loans from banks.Sairam, an NPKL Open Forum member who got his plot registered in 2020, said: “When BDA failed to deliver ready-to-build sites is when I felt someone had to bell the wild cat; so I filed complaints. I paid about Rs 97 lakh plus registration in Feb 2020. My main grouse was that despite full payment and possession, essential infrastructure like roads, water, sewerage, and electricity was missing. When I finally won against BDA in Rera, I felt relieved.“Another allottee, 56, from Block 5 said: “After learning that we could approach Rera, I filed a complaint. Now I’ve got a compensation order for Rs 47 lakh. Despite investing our life savings and paying loans, I’m unable to build a home. While the judgment gives us some relief, we are prepared for further legal steps depending on BDA’s response, as ultimately we want both our rightful compensation and a liveable site where we can build homes.“Madhusudhan, an allottee at NPKL Block 3, said: “My mother wasn’t aware of the process, so I had to run around for registration. She paid Rs 6 lakh under EWS (Economically Weaker Section), yet I’ve spent nearly five years following up. This is my mother’s life savings.”‘Clear disregard for law’Sridhar Nuggehalli, president of NPKL Open Forum, said: “BDA has offered no proper response on compensation, reflecting a clear disregard for the law. Encouraged by rulings awarding 50-60% of site value as compensation, more allottees are now approaching Rera. While buyers still want to retain their sites and build homes, the absence of basic infrastructure continues to make construction unviable.”He added: “Many have waited nearly nine years, and a few have passed away without seeing their homes. While compensation orders have given people some confidence, payments are still uncertain, and BDA may challenge them. But it is clear that accountability must be enforced, as people cannot continue to suffer because of prolonged delays and lack of infrastructure.”The allottees said BDA has so far not responded about payment of compensation, but since some time is still left, they remain hopeful.