The BBMP officers on a demolition drive had to face stiff resistance from residents who accused them of altering the alignment of stormwater drains in order to facilitate powerful people at Avani Sringeri Nagar on Friday.
The drive to remove encroachment of the stormwater drain was led by assistant executive engineer Ganesh Hegde. Compound walls of two apartments were bulldozed.
A verbal duel ensued between Rajesh V Shankar and other officers. Shankar said, “The BBMP maps do not show the existence of any drain. Yet my property is being targeted. The demolition drive should be carried out in accordance with the village map and not the one created by the BBMP.”
In reply, Hegde said, “The demolition is being carried out based on the survey done by the revenue and BBMP officials. Hence, there is no question of creating bogus documents.”
PIL seeks system to punish officials
A PIL has been filed before the High Court by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar and Namma Bengaluru Foundation seeking directions to have a system to penalise officials who allowed buildings on drains. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath adjourned the case to Tuesday.
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