Demolition drive resumes in Bengaluru; 46.02 acre set to be cleared

BBMP resumed its demolition drive Phase III starting from Yelahanka in Bengaluru

Bulldozers raged once again as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) reinitiated its demolition drive to clear encroachments on storm water drains in the city. In the Yelahanka area alone, the BBMP has identified over 323 properties including roads as encroachments. The plan currently is to clear encroachment totalling 46.02 acre.

The BBMP had taken up the demolition drive in order to reclaim encroached storm water drains and lake beds in July after severe rains had left most parts of Bengaluru inundated.

The drive had lost its pace after September but slowly came up to speed with reclaiming open spaces and roads followed by residential and private structures.

"BBMP does not have surveyors of its own. We are dependent on Revenue department surveyors to identify encroached lands. Over the last 2 months, the surveyors who were assigned to us were transferred," said N Manjunath Prasad, Commissioner of BBMP.

"After our efforts 12 surveyors have been assigned and we expect 15 more to join us this week. We have asked for support to go ahead with the demolition drive uninterrupted," he added

Over 300 houses were submerged after the rains battered the city in July. The government and the civic authority had come under severe criticism for failing to curb encroachment and mindless planning that led to flooding in the city.

OneIndia News