What is basis for marking homes for demolition: HC

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday questioned the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) how it was measuring stormwater drains and on what basis markings were made to remove encroachments.

Justice L Narayanaswamy asked BBMP if there are any guidelines laid down by competent authority to measure the width of the stormwater drains in the city.

BBMP’s chief engineer incharge of stormwater drains Sidde Gowda informed the court the markings are done by the Assistant Director Land Records (ADLR) of the Revenue Department based on village maps where the measurements of the drains are given.
 The petitioner, Savitramma, a resident of Chinnappanahalli, had sought directions from the High Court to restrain the BBMP from demolishing her house without conducting a survey of the stormwater drains.

Savitramma had challenged the marking made on her house wherein 2.4 metres of her house would be demolished. The judge disposed of the petition after BBMP submitted that ADLR has not given any indication and that the marking will be done only after a survey.