Encroachments on Allalasandra lake bed cleared

Encroachments on Allalasandra Lake bed, off Yelahanka New Town, were cleared by staff from Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Revenue department with the support from local police force, on Monday.

Three to four houses that had illegally come were cleared. BBMP officials said they have given 15 days deadline to the remaining 20 houses to vacate so that they can carry with their clearance drive.

BBMP Assistant Executive Engineer Jagadish S said: “we had informed the houseowners about our plans to remove encroachments. Hence, we did not face any problems.”
As per the survey conducted by BBMP and revenue department, about  4.1 acre of lake bed had been encroached on the 44 acre of lake.

Residents of Yelahanka New Town, meanwhile, heaved a sigh of relief that authorities were finally taking steps to clear encroachments. C N Chandru, a resident, said: since one year, we had been following up the issue and sent letters to BMTF and BBMP. Finally action has been taken.”

Apart from slums even  apartments have mushroomed on the lake bed, residents said.
Deccan Herald had reported about the encroachment on October 14 and how the waterbody had shrunk.