1,923 illegal structures on stormwater drains: survey

BBMP promises it will take up demolition drive in October

The Bengaluru Urban district administration has identified 1,923 illegal structures on storm water drains (SWDs) and feeder canals of lakes in Bengaluru.

The authorities claim that they have completed the survey of 842 km of SWDs and canals. By the first week of August, survey sketches will be handed over to the SWD division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the custodian of the drains.

A senior officer in the district administration said: “Our field work (of measuring the SWDs) is over and survey sketches are ready.” BBMP Chief Engineer (SWD) Siddegowda said: “Joint Director of Land Records K Jayaprakash has assured that attestation of the survey sketches will be completed by July-end. We may get the sketches in the first week of August.”

Siddegowda said the Revenue department officials will identify the properties encroaching upon the SWDs. “The demolition drive will start once the illegal structures are identified. We may start the drive from October first week,” he added.

The survey was started in 2011 following a High Court order to remove illegal structures on SWDs. The order was based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by the Five-Year Law Graduates’ Association in view of flooding and disappearing of lakes in the city. The court directed the BBMP to submit monthly progress report to it as well as the petitioner.

‘Survey a farce’
S Umesh of Five-Year Law Graduates’ Association, who had filed the PIL, rubbished the survey report. “The claim that there are only 1,923 encroachments is a farce. The number is much higher. Many powerful people are among the encroachers. There are corporate hospitals, shrines, temples, malls, educational institutions, bungalows, apartments, commercial buildings etc on the SWDs. These have been intentionally excluded,” he said.

He accused the district administration and BBMP officials of conniving with realtors. “The BBMP has narrowed many storm water drains from 50 feet to a mere three to five feet. It also ignored measuring many drains. The shoddy work has led to flooding in many parts of Bengaluru.” Umesh said the BBMP has not submitted the progress report to him for the last eight months.