Bengaluru: Bulldozers don't rest on Sunday too!

BENGALURU: Sunday was another day of stress and pain for the residents of Avani Shrungerinagar and Mahadevapura, where BBMP officials came trundling in with bulldozers to continue the demolition drive to clear encroachments on storm water drains.

The BBMP warned of criminal action against encroachers and also officials, who aided them in the illegal act. The list of encroachers will be uploaded on the BBMP official website and encroachers have been given two days to clear the extent of encroachments on their own. If they don’t comply, the BBMP will demolish the structures and recover the cost from the owners, Palike officials warned.

Several buildings, including five new structures, were demolished during the BBMP drive on Saturday following a high court order and directions from Chief Minster Siddaramaiah to clear encroachments on storm water drains that caused flooding of several areas in Southeast Bengaluru. The authorities are scrutinising files to identify officials who allowed unauthorised buildings to come up on storm water drains, sources said.

BBMP Chief Engineer (SWD) Siddegowda told Deccan Chronicle that buildings that were demolished partly will be bulldozed completely and earth work will be taken up to construct the drains.

He said the second list of encroachers will be prepared and the area will be marked for demolition on Monday. The demolition drive will be taken up at different zones on Tuesday.

Till Sunday, the BBMP had recovered 39 properties, including 15 buildings and 17 vacant plots. Four buildings were recovered in Mahadevapura, two vacant sites in Yelahanka and one structure in Koramangala.

Mr Prakash K., a resident of Avani Shrungerinagar and a bank employee who had invested his lifetime earnings on his house, was worried about his life after retirement. “I will retire in two years and I can’t imagine my life without my house,” he said.

Silver lining
Poor people who have lost their homes will be considered for the single house scheme, under which beneficiaries will be given a financial assistance of '4 lakh. The area corporators are planning to discuss the issue with BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad and Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy.

Confusion on width of drain
Officials had marked 4 feet of space for the construction of the drain and identified the properties. But on Sunday, the BBMP officials increased it to 8 feet and invited the wrath of residents. The drive was obstructed for a while when the residents protested. The residents alleged that they were suffering because of the political rivalry between the BJP and Congress. The constituencies represented by BJP MLAs are being targeted to tarnish their image, they said.

No power supply
Areas around Avani Shrungerinagar in Bommanahalli, and Kaigondanahalli and Kasavanahalli in Mahadevapura plunged into darkness on Saturday and Sunday evenings as electricity supply was cut to ensure the movement of earthmovers. Even the water supply was affected in some areas.   

Appeal from BBMP chief
BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad appealed to encroachers to demolish the encroached portions on their own and to cooperate with the BBMP drive. The BBMP is empowered to evict encroachments without even issuing notices. If the encroachers refuse, the BBMP will take up demolition drive and recover the cost from the encroachers, he said.