Govt moots rehab plans for owners of razed houses

Families which lost their houses for encroaching the rajakaluve network in the city can heave a sigh of relief. The government is considering a proposal to rehabilitate affected property owners.

“We have been directed to make a list of people who lost their properties, partially or fully. The government will make a provision to compensate them appropriately,” Mayor Manjunath Reddy told reporters after a special meeting of elected representatives and officers, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The flats being constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the government land recovered by the Bengaluru district administration would be used to rehabilitate genuine families who lost their houses.

“We will consider providing monetary compensation to those who lost their properties partially,” the mayor said.

The meeting came to a conclusion to demolish buildings in places affected by floods and not all encroaching properties. The Mayor said that the government would first take up demolition of properties which are blocking the rajakaluves of two live lakes.

“We will clear other encroachments in the second phase,” he said, indicating a softening of the government’s stand on the ongoing demolition drive.

“We have identified 35 places spread over Bommanahalli, Yelahanka and Mahadevapura and other zones. These were the places where people were affected due to flooding. It’s only because of buildings which have come up on the rajakaluve. Tough action will be taken against the owners, irrespective of their political influence,” Reddy said and added that re-survey would be conducted in places where residents expressed lack of clarity. Minister Ramalinga Reddy seemed to concur.

The chief minister has directed to continue the drive, if encroached properties are blocking the flow of water between interconnecting lakes. “Places where there was flooding for several years will be considered on priority,” he said. Siddaramaiah is said to have directed officials not to demolish properties which have come up between lakes that are already dead with no water.