Encroachment: BBMP goes ‘bananas’

Bangalore: Shri Bandi Mahakali Temple in Basavangudi is repeatedly accused of trying to encroach upon a portion of land adjoining Kempambudhi Lake that belongs to the BBMP.

The temple has a banana plantation on an acre of land near the lake that is claimed by the civic body. BBMP’s executive engineer has submitted a report about this to the corporation’s legal cell. The temple is situated on four acres and 30 guntas near the Kempagowda Fort, which is a tourist attraction. 

According to BBMP officials, the temple has been repeatedly violating civic laws by maintaining the banana plantation on the lake area. According to locals, the actual Kempambudhi Lake area was about 47 acres. It is now reduced to less than 35 acres because of encroachments from all sides. 

“Real estate is booming along the lakeside which is one of the major causes of the reduction in the total lake area,” said Venkata­ramana, who lives in the vicinity. The temple authorities accept that the land is under dispute and claim they planted the banana tre­es to protect the land from becoming a dump yard.

“The area was turning into a dump yard. The locals come and dump chicken and mutton waste here from the nearby meat stalls, and dirty the place. Hospital waste is also brought to the area and set on fire. That is the reason we put this banana plantation and have been maintaining it to keep the surroundings of the temple clean and tidy,” said Shiva Prakash, G.R., president of the Vishwastha Mandal, Shri Bandi Mahakali Temple.

The temple authorities said that the banana leaves and fruits are only used for temple rituals and not sold commercially. Local MLA R.V. Devraj1 told Deccan Chronicle that the entire area is a tourist attraction and needs to be maintained as it is. “The lake area will remain untouched.  It’s the locals’ deity and the temple surroundings that have to be maintained hygienically,” he added.