Bengaluru citizens, NGO battle 'unscientific' BBMP demolitions

"The people who are responsible for the encroachment of government land are in administration. How can they punish themselves for their wrongdoing?" asked AT Ramaswamy, convener, Anti-Land Grabbing Action Committee. 

Ramaswamy was speaking on Saturday at the 'Demolished By Corruption' convention, a platform set up by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation, fighting for accountability from the Karnataka state government for the spate of home demolitions by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Bengaluru.    

        
Flashing documents highlighting the various lakes and stormwater drains within the BBMP's purview that have now vanished, he alleged that a nexus of politicians, government officials and land mafias was 'looting' the state government.  

Terming the demolition drive taken up by the BBMP as a dummy stunt and an eye wash, he said, "Only the homes and sheds of the poor and middle class are being razed. But the homes and large apartment complexes that belong to influential people are being spared." 

He also asked the citizens of the city to 'revolt' when land sharks encroach on public lands like gomala, karab, stormwater drains and lakes. 

"Your silence is your support to land sharks," said Ramaswamy.                                            

"I have been fighting for this cause for over nine years. Namma Bengaluru Foundation extending its support will further strengthen this cause," he added.                                                        

Echoing similar sentiments, V Balasubramaniam, former Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, said, "In Bengaluru, there were 937 lakes. Today over 400 are missing."

Taking on the BBMP, he said, "The BBMP started to demolish homes on stormwater drains, but they failed to understand that these stormwater drains connect to lakes, and most of those lakes have now been converted into homes. When it rains, these homes will anyway submerge. Hence, the demolition drive by the Palike is unscientific."

                                  
"The bankrupt BBMP cannot even maintain existing stormwater drains. After homes were demolished on top of stormwater drains, now that debris is also lying uncleared. If it rains, this will once again result in a flood."            

He further added that his report on land encroachment was rejected by the government. He later published the report at his own expense. 

"The same person who was responsible for the Byrasandra Lake encroachment in Bengaluru East Taluk and built Bagmane Tech Park is now responsible for four acres near Vrushabavathi canal in Bengaluru South. Builders and politicians should be booked, and the poor residents should be compensated," said Balasubramaniam.

• BBMP
• BBMP Demolitions
• Namma Bengaluru Foundation
• NGO