BDA engr lodges plaint against MLC

An assistant engineer with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) against Member of Legislative Council D U Mallikarjun accusing him of abusing him and threatening him with dire consequences on Friday when he went to demolish illegal structures on Venkatarayana Kere (Lake) in Gubbalala village in Bangalore South.

According to sources in the police, the engineer N Vishwanath, serving in the Bangalore South sub-division of BDA, was assigned to demolish illegal structures on Venkatarayana Kere in survey number 8 of Gubbalala village in Uttarahalli Hobli of Bangalore South taluk.He said the action was taken based on a direction by the Lokayukta seeking the status of lake and progress made in the alleged attempts to encroach on the government land. After demolishing illegal structures, when he was heading towards the head office at 6.20 pm, MLC Mallikarjun rang him up from his mobile phone (number 9845003055) and called names. He also gave threat to his life.

“This way, Mallikarjun obstructed me from performing my official duty. I request you to direct the Banashankari police to ensure my safety,” said Vishwanath in his complaint to the DCP.

Complaint refused at BSK

It is learnt that the engineer had initially gone to the Banashankari police station but the station house officer and other staff plainly refused to accept his complaint against the MLC.

A terrified Vishwanath then approached the Bangalore South DCP where he lodged his complaint.

When contacted, Mallikarjun accused the BDA engineer of trespassing into his property in survey numbers 7 and 9, which are adjacent to survey number 8, on which the BDA should have cleared the encroachment.

He said he would consider taking a legal action against the engineer for trespassing into his property.

It may be recalled here that survey number 8 is a lake land, known as Venkatarayana Kere, where the BDA formed an illegal layout comprising 130 sites of 600 sq ft each as part of its Banashankari 6th Stage Extension. While forming the layout, the BDA engineers and officials did not seek the permission of the State government or the BDA Board and allotted it to the individuals.

Last year, Deccan Herald broke the story about the illegal layout. Recently, some residents of Gubbalala village lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta for clearing encroachment on the lake and restoration of the water body.