Why raze houses not blocking rajakaluves: Bommanahalli MLA

As the BBMP went on a demolition spree, a visibly worked-up Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy (BJP) sought mercy for those who had built houses adjacent to rajakaluves.

“Me and my party (BJP) support the rajakaluve encroachment removal drive. But why demolish houses next to these drains which are not interrupting the flow of water?” questioned a miffed Reddy during the BBMP Council meeting on Monday.

When Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy reminded him of the buffer zone rules, Satish Reddy turned red.

"Are buffer zone rules for rajakaluves applicable only to my constituency or are they applicable across the city? Why target properties selectively in my constituency?" questioned Satish Reddy.

The MLA said the Palike administration has turned a blind eye to encroachment of lakes and cremation grounds while focusing entirely on stormwater drains, and that too in his constituency. He charged the BBMP with targeting innocent property owners instead of officials who sanctioned layout plans, issued 'A' khathas and building plans.

“Penalise the sub-registrar who registered the properties, district officials who changed the land use and Palike officials who issued 'A' khathas and sanctioned building plans. Spare the property owners, especially those whose houses are next to rajakaluves,” pleaded Satish Reddy.

He said many houses on the edge of the rajakaluve were razed to the ground unnecessarily. He blamed Palike engineers who did not promptly remove silt from rajakaluves, which had led to the floods.

“I had been repeatedly asking Palike officials to remove silt from stormwater drains. Had they acted upon my request, we would not have these kind of floods,” said the MLA.

Mayor Manjunath Reddy reminded him that the Palike has sanctioned Rs 24 crore for remodelling stormwater drains in Bommanahalli constituency. In reply, Satish Reddy said the budgetary allocation will not be of any help as measures have to be taken immediately.

“You need at least three months to call tenders, give necessary approvals and then issue a final order. These are time-consuming measures whereas our requirements are immediate when the monsoon is still on,” said the MLA.