JOIN USTension prevailed at Jai Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, at Siddapura near Nimhans, on Wednesday when officials of the Karnataka Slum Development Board came there to demolish houses in their slum.
The police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the residents who protested against the drive.
According to sources, nearly 800 families reside in the slum. Groups of residents besieged the vehicles of the officials and stopped them from going ahead with their plan.
Others sat in front of the vehicles and staged a demonstration.
The slum dwellers claimed that the administration had issued an eviction order a week ago, but the High Court granted a stay three days back, following a writ petition by 57 residents.
They alleged that the administration went ahead with the demolition plan, interpreting that the stay has been granted only for 57 buildings and not the entire slum.
Those who have approached the High Court and got a stay argued before the court that the houses provided in Kudlu for their relocation were inhospitable, since there are no water connections and toilets.
Soon after getting information, volunteers of Alternative Law Forum and local activists’ groups reached the spot and lent their support to the agitators.
The activists alleged that the agitators, including women and children, were beaten up and 30 of them were arrested.
High Court grants stay
The High Court on Wednesday stayed the eviction of slum dwellers at Jai Bhuvaneshwari till Thursday, after the Karnataka Slum Development Board started their eviction on Wednesday.
Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri ordered stay on the eviction of around 300 families who have approached the court as petitioners.
Poor amenities
The High Court had earlier directed the dwellers to vacate the slum located near the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, inside Nimhans campus.
Subsequently, the Board identified 512 families in the slum and provided them rehabilitation in a multi-storey building in Kudlu.
However, eviction was not carried out on time and a contempt petition was filed.
Recently, another petition had challenged the rehabilitation facility, stating that the houses were not in good condition and have been constructed using substandard material.
The petitioners also stated that there was no water or sewerage connection provided at the rehabilitation building. The bench will hear all related matters on Thursday.
DH News Service