Bengaluru residents panic as BBMP surveys land for demolition

 

IT employee Aravind, a resident at the Ideal Homes Layout in RR Nagar has been on leave from work for the last four days in fear that bulldozers may raze down his house under the pretext of clearing areas near storm water drains.

 

Panic-stricken residents approached BBMP Mayor BN Manjunath Reddy on Thursday to share their set of land records and housing documents. 

 

Ideal Homes Layout was formed by the Bengaluru Development Authority after securing land from revenue department in 1989.

 

"Our homes that were in the ground pit cannot be demolished as it is nowhere close to storm water drains or lake. The survey by revenue officials now has sent shivers down the spines of poor residents as they have witnessed series of building demolitions on storm water drains in their area and in TV channels," said Aravind.  

 

Subramanya, a septuagenarian, who has been living in the area for over 15 years post his retirement says, "All the people here are living in fear. People have built homes with hard earned money. The BBMP should not demolish homes unnecessarily," 

 

The BBMP has now been accused of tweaking land records during their demolition drive to avoid breaking down houses and constructions by influential people.

 

BN Manjunath Reddy, City Mayor in clarification said, "We will not spare anyone if they have encroached the storm water drain land. Post the deluge in Bommannahalli due to heavy rains in June, the CM had ordered the demolition of homes on culverts and lakes to save the City from drowning like Chennai during heavy rains," he said. The BBMP has deployed around 60 surveyors in its entire jurisdiction to cross check the land marking.

 

To a question on sparing influential people like actor Darshan, SS Hospital owned by former minister Shamnur Shivshankarappa and Gopalan Mall, he said, "If there is an encroachment by influential people, we will not stop the drive. In the next ten days, we hope to finish the survey and take up demolition work again."

 

Criticizing the BBMP’s recent demolition drive and terming it as 'selective',   MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar said, "A large number of hardworking innocent homebuyers are paying the price today, losing their homes due to adhoc planning and illegal constructions – bearing the cost of corruption and malfeasance, while those that have benefitted – Builders, layout Developers and Officials who were complicit with them in these rampant violations of law, remain scot-free.” 

 

"Residents have reached a point where prayers won’t come to their rescue. It’s time to walk down the legal path and seek accountability and Government Action against those who are Violating Laws and exploiting our City, and Seek Justice for those wronged," added Rajeev Chandrashekhar.

 

The Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) along with HS Doreswamy, Veteran Freedom Fighter,  Krishna, Former Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly,  V Balasubramanian, former Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka,  AT Ramaswamy, Convener of the Anti Land Grabbing Action Committee and other concerned citizens will host a debate to fight to protect Bengaluru city from the criminal nexus of government officials and builders and make sure the hapless residents are suitably compensation for and fix those involved in selling illegal land to poor home buyers.  

 

You can also join the Fight to Demand Accountability and Justice from the Government:

 

Date: Saturday, August 27, 2016

 

Time: 10.30 am onwards

 

Venue: Town Hall, JC Road, Bangalore.