Demolitions will continue, BDA flats for poor who lose homes: CM

Re-survey shows 20 properties on SWDs in RR Nagar

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is learnt to have informed the State Congress coordination committee on Thursday that his government will continue with the drive to demolish illegal structures on stormwater drains (SWDs) in Bengaluru.

Removing encroachments on drains is in the interest of Bengaluru. Flooding and waterlogging problems cannot be solved unless encroachments of drains are cleared. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been directed to demolish structures that have come up only on live drains, he told the coordination committee meeting.

Many members of committee, including former Union minister Margaret Alva expressed concern that the demolition drive would damage the party’s prospects in the next Assembly elections. Responding to this, Siddaramaiah said the government will give Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) flats to the poor who will lose their shelter in the demolition drive.

Survey report submitted
Surveyors have submitted their report regarding the Ideal Homes in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, which reportedly showed that Kannada actor Darshan's house is on the stormwater drain. The report has been submitted to the Joint Director of Land Record K Jayaprakash. Once these survey sketches are handed over to the BBMP, next course of action will be taken.

An officer in the Bengaluru Urban district administration, who was involved in the survey told DH on the condition of anonymity that the re-survey of the stormwater drain in Rajarajeshwari Nagar shows that about 20 properties, including Darshan’s house are on the SWDs. He said the survey was done by superimposing village map on Google Earth. Physical marking will commence once the survey report is handed over to the BBMP.

BBMP Joint Commissioner (Rajarajeshwari Nagar Zone) B Veerabhadrappa said marking of buildings on SWDs in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone did not happen.“So far no surveyor has came to our zone for marking the buildings, which have encroached upon the stormwater drains and, sought any assistance from us. Maybe after the Karnataka bandh on Friday, the survey may resume,” he said.

In other parts of the city,  marking of buildings that have encroached upon the stormwater drains was completed on Thursday. The encroachment removal drive will start from Saturday.