BENGALURU: In the aftermath of heavy rains, leading to floods in Bengaluru, the demolition of apartments built illegally in different parts of the city is on in full swing.
The operation of clearing the encroachments of rajakaluves is actively going on in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. As on Tuesday, a total of 18 encroachments in Mahadevapura and Yelahanka zones were cleared.
In Mahadevapura zone, Shantiniketan Layout, Papaya Reddy Layout, Chellaghatta and Yelahanka Zone Satellite Town, encroachment of rajakaluves was cleared using 10 Hitachi and JCB machines under the supervision of corporation engineers, revenue officers, Marshals and police personnel.
As many as seven buildings and four compound walls were cleared in Shantiniketan layout. In Papaya Reddy Layout, an apartment wall encroaching a rajakaluve and four sheds built on vacant land of the rajakaluve were cleared. In Basavanapur, one compound wall and a vacant land were cleared and seized by the corporation.
In Yelahanka satellite town, a compound wall built by the CBS Institute, encroaching on the 120-metre-long rajakaluve was cleared by the JCB.
The encroachment of the canals in the city is being surveyed and marked by land surveyors and the encroachment clearance operation is being carried out. The evacuation operation of the encroached areas will continue in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister R Ashok on Tuesday said that all apartments built illegally on rajakaluves in Bengaluru will be demolished. “By next monsoon, we’ve to clear all pending demolitions… All apartments will be removed, as you saw in Noida. Action to be against officials and builders”, he said.
“About 30-40 IT companies have encroached rajakaluves in Bengaluru city. Apartments will be demolished without any favour,” he noted, and added that the assembly discussed the Bengaluru floods and the further course of action.
The list of IT Parks and developers who have done encroached upon stormwater drains includes Bagmane Tech Park and Purva Paradise in Mahadevapura, RBD in three locations, Wipro in Doddakannelli, Eco-Space in Bellandur, Gopalan in multiple locations and Diya school in Hoodi, the BBMP said in a statement.
“Nalapad in Challaghatta is also a part of the list of IT Parks and developers indulging in SWD (stormwater drain) encroachments,” it added.
The BBMP informed the high court on Monday that 980 buildings had been found to be illegal throughout the city in a recent survey. The survey was carried out in response to a high court injunction issued in a suo motu PIL on September 19. The BBMP is conducting a demolition drive of illegal commercial and residential buildings in Mahadevapura area after recent rains triggered floods in the city.
Mahadevapura BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali blamed the illegal encroachment in Bengaluru for the floods. “We started clearing encroachment which will take at least three months. We will also address the demolition issues”, added Limbavali.
BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said that the encroachment needs to be cleared on priority.
On Monday, 15 encroachments were cleared in Mahadevpur zone. The drive was also be carried out in Chellaghatta, Chinnappana Halli, Basavannanagar, Spicy Garden, and Basavanapura ward. Encroachment was also identified in Cambridge College premises and was cleared.
Three encroached buildings, four compound walls, and roads including the compound wall of Sai Eye Hospital, and the internal flow canal in front of Raghamva Super Market have been cleared.
Three compound walls including vacant space of Prestige, a compound wall of Gopalan School, and Mahaveer Apartment near Hoodi have been cleared in Chellaghatta area. Four compound walls and roads were cleared near Spicy Garden in Munnenakolalu. (ANI)