Only deterrence can end violations

Bengaluru has witnessed multiple deaths over the years due to electrocution from overhead power lines, yet over 7,000 buildings still stand perilously close to high tension (HT) wires laid by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). This figure represents only a fraction of a larger crisis with thousands of other structures illegally erected close to low-tension cables. These buildings have turned into deathtraps. The KPTCL has issued numerous warnings since 2021, but the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has responded with inaction, allowing violations to persist at the cost of innocent lives. The recent death of a 10-year-old boy in KR Puram, electrocuted by a power line barely four feet from his home, highlights the deadly consequences of this bureaucratic inertia. This was not the first such incident nor will it be the last, unless urgent action is taken.

The issue is not a lack of laws, but a complete breakdown of enforcement and accountability. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) mandates strict vertical and horizontal clearances for buildings near power lines, but these regulations are routinely ignored. KPTCL can only identify and report violations, while the authority to demolish illegal structures or evacuate residents rests with the BBMP. However, the civic body has been complicit in the rampant violation of building by-laws. An internal BBMP survey itself corroborated that a majority of buildings in the city have violated construction norms, yet no significant action was taken against the officers or the builders. Illegal constructions do not emerge overnight but flourish due to a well-oiled system of corruption and negligence. Once occupied, these structures become vote banks, leading politicians to intervene under the guise of humanitarian concerns, forcing enforcement agencies to back down.

Merely holding meetings or exchanging letters between KPTCL and BBMP will not suffice. It is time to end the blame game and act. Bengaluru needs a joint task force comprising officers from KPTCL, BESCOM and BBMP to identify and demolish illegal structures without bureaucratic delays. Fast-track tribunals should be established to expedite cases where builders challenge demolition notices, preventing prolonged litigation. Most critically, accountability must begin at the top – BBMP officers who approved the illegal constructions must be suspended and prosecuted. Both unscrupulous builders and BBMP officers act with impunity in the absence of any strong deterrent action against them. Without penalising those responsible, violations will continue unchecked. The government has an inescapable moral and legal obligation to act with extreme urgency; it cannot wait for another casualty.