True face of BBMP development: Evicted from sheds, made to live on footpaths
- 200 families continue to live on footpath due to BBMP's delay in handing over slum quarters on time.
- The BBMP was suppose to give them home within a year but failed to provide even after four years after the eviction.
- Few dwellers with conditions like diabetes and blood pressure, died as they did not have money to buy medicines.
- The dwellers have lost hope to get quarters for them due the delay.
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About 200 slum dwellers who were evicted from their shed at Eijipura in 2013, have lost hope to move in the new quarters as BBMP is dragging its project from last four and half  years. With no transit arrangement by BBMP and no regular income the dwellers continue to live on footpaths and on storm water drain.
Shantha Mary who was residing in the Ejipura slum sheds from 1993 said, the community living on Ejipura before eviction was healthy, but after the eviction in 2013, many of them started living on footpath next to national games village in Koramangala.
"The age persons could not tolerate shivering cold and harsh summer. Those who were diabetic and had blood pressure  did not have money to buy medicines and died a tragic death," she said.
Maryamma another dweller who has put a road side tent on storm water drain said, women face a tough time living in footpath. The BBMP both deaf and blind as it failed to see the sufferings.
 "During the time of eviction, there were newly married couple living in slum homes and my daughter in law was one among them. Like many, she  hoped the BBMP will give homes in a few months and she could bring her child in that home. Years have passed and still no hope of getting a home," she said with tears.
The BBMP should have build slum quarters and then asked us to move. Because of the foolishness, 200 families are forced to live in footpaths from last four and half years.
Arul Selva from People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) an organisation which is following up with BBMP is ensuring justice for slum dwellers say, 900 homes are being built at Sulekunte in Sarjapura 18 kms from Ejipura but these dwellers who have been living here from last two decades will find it difficult to get home as the local elected representative wants  300 quarters for people in his constituency.
At Ejipura, the Maverick Holdings Private Limited which is suppose to build 1512 quarters  for slum dwellers has taken up the work recently and to finish the  work it will take time, till then the displaced dwellers from Ejipura will be made to bare the inconvenience.
"The 15 acre land in Ejipura where the slum quarters and also shopping complex will come up,  belongs to BBMP. Had they made a provision to put temporary sheds and evicted these dwellers, many deaths could have been prevented," he said.
