BBMP starts demolition drive in Mahadevapura
BBMP has started a demolition drive within days of the havoc caused by rains-triggered floods in the city. According to the BBMP officials, at least 15 places in Mahadevapura zone have been identified, which were choking flow of the rainwater. These structures include a building, a playground and a garden of a prominent private school among others which have encroached the stormwater drain area.
A playground that was constructed over a stormwater drain on the Gopalan College campus in Basavanagara was razed during the drive on Monday, a person in the know of the developments said. In addition, several homes and shops in Munnekolala were demolished, and around 25-30 more buildings have been marked for the same, said the person citied above. The authorities issued notices on Monday to the respective area residents to vacate their homes.
Meanwhile, addressing the media, BBMP chief engineer Basavaraj stated that a stretch of about 20 buildings extending from Munnekolala to Spice Garden has been marked for demolition. He said, “According to protocols, the demolition of smaller structures can be carried out without issuing notices.”
The BBMP has identified more than 700 encroachments in Bengaluru so far.
“The next challenge before the authorities is to raze an elite apartment right next to a school,” an official said. “Notices have been served to the dwellers of the apartment to vacate it. We are waiting for their response,” another BBMP official said.
Executive engineer Muni Reddy stated that in AECS Layout, eight buildings have been demolished to connect a stormwater drain to Varthuru. Further, 15 residents of the Luxury Rainbow Drive gated community, which was flooded after the heavy rains recently, have also reportedly been issued notices by the Bengaluru East tehsildar for alleged encroachment over a stormwater drain. The owners have been asked to vacate the encroachments by themselves and warned that if they do not do so, the BBMP would do it and the owners will have to bear the expenses.
There will be no partisanship in the drive to remove the alleged encroachment of the stormwater drains that were said to be majorly responsible for the floods in Bengaluru recently following a heavy downpour,” Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said while reacting to the demolition drive.
“I have given a clear direction to the officials to remove the encroachment, whoever has built structures on the stormwater drains and interrupted the flow of rainwater. This I have made clear from Day 1,” he told reporters.
When asked if big companies were found to be encroaching the stormwater drains, Bommai said: “Whoever they are, we will not spare them. Everybody suffered during floods, be it IT-BT people or the common people.”
Bommai added there is no question of any disparity in the removal of encroachments.
Meanwhile, the Outer Ring Road Companies’ Association (ORRCA) said they started their offices on Monday as usual as there was no waterlogging on the roads or in the offices.