JOIN USMCC busts illegal slum dwellers racket
The slum dwellers had been living illegally occupying five acres of land at Manjunathapura near Brindavan Extension, obviously eyeing rehabilitation package under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) project.
About 100 of the total 200 such slum dwellers were cleared in an emergency operation that lasted four hours from 6 am. An earthmover, two tipper lorries, besides gangmen of the civic body and two teams of Dhanush an emergency wing of the city corporation pulled down the thatched roof huts and also zinc sheets in some cases.
Soon after, a posse of men arrived at the spot, the residents who got a scent of eviction voluntary shifted their belongings to a safer place thus facilitating the drive. Interestingly, what led to the drive was the occupants who though sanctioned houses under JnNURM and also held house warming ceremonies recently, had continued to reside in the slum.
Zone four Assistant Commissioner of MCC B Nagaraj told Deccan Herald already 60 houses have been allotted to them, while 40 are nearing completion. Surprisingly, no beneficiary is ready to shift to the new shelter.
In some cases, new huts had come up at the behest of vested interests, only for getting eligibility for Nurm houses. Those vested interests had assured them of security, in case of any adverse situations.
Even as the operation was on, a few among them sought three to four days time to vacate on their own. Nagraj who obliged their request warned of resuming the drive if they continued to remain defiant.
According to an estimate there are a total of 330 houses in the slum. The total area is jointly owned by MCC, Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and also private parties.
Junior Engineers Roopashri and Anand Krishna, Health Inspector Sooryanarayan supervised the drive under the instructions of Nagaraj. Local police in adequate numbers provided security cover.
Protest
However, the slum dwellers staged a protest in front of MCC in the evening demanding compensation. Led by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) they alleged that they are left in lurch without any roof. Following an assurance they dispersed later.