The public private partnership (PPP) between the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Maverick Holdings on the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quarters in Koramangala was “illegal” because the public land was converted into commercial use for the benefit of a private entity, NGOs alleged here on Tuesday.
The BBMP “flouted” its own resolution of 2005 as per which it was to construct the residential complex at the EWS quarters in view of its dilapidated condition, even if the residents were not the original allottees, the Housing and Land Rights Network (Delhi) and Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Karnataka claimed in their fact-finding report.
“The residents were kept in the dark about the PPP. No consultations or public hearing was held with them before they were evicted. In addition, eviction is against India’s national and international legal obligations and commitments,” according to Ramdas Rao, a PUCL member.
M R Prabhakar, Convener, Forum against EWS Land Grab, stressed that no government body had conducted a probe into why 1,512 homes were demolished by the BBMP from July 18 to 23, 2012. The four-day eviction drive affected around 1,200 women and 2,000 children, and rendered thousands homeless, the report stated.
The reports along with the list of demands will be submitted to the Urban Development Department, the Karnataka Housing Board, Lokayukta, etc in two weeks, Prabhakar told reporters here on Tuesday at the release of the report ‘Governance by denial: Forced eviction in Koramangala (Ejipura), Bangalore’.
“We want a probe into the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement signed by the Maverick Holdings and the BBMP, besides the eviction and demolition,” Prabhakar added.
“The government should investigate and take action against the Palike and police officers responsible for the violent attacks on residents and activists during the eviction.”
The team carried out the investigation between February 21 and 23. The report’s initial findings were released in March in Delhi. As per the PPP agreement, Maverick agreed to use half of the land for a mall and the remaining part for building 1,512 apartments for the poor.
The 120-page report gives an insight into the history of EWS quarters, the government’s response to demolition, analysis of forced eviction. It also contains annexure, including BBMP circulars and agreements reached with the firm in question, etc.
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