A BBMP building on top of a drain!

BENGALURU: Although BBMP has been harping on razing down encroachments on drains, a building stands right on the drain at busy JC road, where the BBMP has taken up desalting work. Ironically, the building was built by Palike itself and has been leased.

The recent flash floods at Avani Sringeri, J.P. Nagar, parts of Jalahalli, Rajarajeshwarinagar were attributed to rampant encroachments on storm water drains (SWD) and the government directed the BBMP to demolish such encroachments to ensure smooth flow of water.

Prashant M, a local resident, said the BBMP prepared survey maps by spending several man hours and evicted gullible people. Why is BBMP turning a blind eye on this structure?

It is very much evident that it has been built on a SWD. The building is even affecting the BBMP’s desilting work and this part of the city gets flooded during every monsoon, he lamented.

Does the BBMP need a map to find the encroachments and to act on it? Interestingly, the BBMP itself is the encroacher, said another resident.

BBMP Chief Engineer (SWD) Bettegowda told Deccan Chronicle that encroachment removal drive was currently on at Thanisandra. Survey is underway at different locations of the city based on the availability of the surveyors from the survey department and the BBMP.

Of the 1,953 encroachment cases, 1,255 have been cleared and 700 odd cases are pending. Encroachment removal is a continuous process, he added.