Bengaluru: Bulldozers go slow, survey report awaited

BENGALURU: The earth movers stopped roaring on Sunday as no fresh demolitions took place at Rajarajeshwarinagar. Only the leftover construction debris was cleared by trucks and tractors.

The residents were busy salvaging the demolished fragments and collecting the doors and window frames to bring their houses back into  some kind of order.

Dr Veerabhadrappa B, Joint Commissioner (RR Nagar Zone) told this newspaper, "In our zone we did not carry out any fresh demolitions on Sunday. We were only clearing the construction debris."

He added that the residents had requested the BBMP officials to allow them to collect the door and window frames and other decorative woodwork. Some of the residents were even allowed to collect the unbroken bricks from the debris, Dr Veerabhadrappa said.

Unwanted plants and weeds which were obstructing the free flow of water in the drains were cleared away, he added.

The authorities of Yelahanka zone and the BBMP officials are waiting for a green signal from the survey authorities to empower themselves with a map in order to be accurate in the demolition drive and to avoid obstructions and opposition from the public.  

‘BBMP will not bow to any pressure’
BBMP officials at RR Nagar are awaiting the joint survey report from the Revenue Department to proceed with demolition drive. The report will also give clarity on the structures belonging to actor Darshan and former minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa. “The BBMP will not bow or succumb to any pressure. Everybody will be treated equally when it comes to the demolition drive, irrespective of ‘big’ or ‘small’,” said BBMP sources.

Taking no chances
Meanwhile, following  protests at different zones of the city, BBMP authorities are not taking any chances. The authorities want to be sure and get the accurate survey report, added sources.

Taking no chances
Meanwhile, following  protests at different zones of the city, BBMP authorities are not taking any chances. The authorities want to be sure and get the accurate survey report, added sources.

A broken hall, but couple united in matrimony
Broken walls covered with a pandal and bright yellow chrysanthemum, bulldozed bricks serving as a prop and heaps of dust painting the venue. It may not be the perfect setting for a big fat wedding, but nothing wiped the smile off the groom Yeshwanth’s face as he tied the knot at Padmavathi Kalyana Mantapa on Sunday.

Parents of the bride and groom were worried on Saturday as a part of the wedding hall was pulled down a day before the marriage. But, as they say, all’s well that ends well. The groom’s father H.D. Lingaraj said that though it was upsetting that the hall was partially demolished, they were relieved that the rituals took place without any problem. "Nearly 3,000 people attended the wedding," he said.

There was relief for the marriage party as BBMP officials had stopped the demolition drive over the weekend.

Meanwhile, amid speculation that Kannada actor Darshan may lose his house, the BBMP officials said that only encroached areas will be demolished, irrespective of whom the property belongs to.

“It can be only a pillar or a compound or the entire house. We will only bring down the encroached area. We want to make it very clear that not just the middle class or the poor, even bigwigs will lose their properties. There are rumours that we have been partial to the rich, but that is not true. Indiscriminate action will be taken from Tuesday,” said RR Nagar Joint Commissioner Veerabhadrappa.