Corporators protest against BMP's demolition drive

Where else in the world would you see elected representatives who demand the head of conscientious officials who act against violators of the law rather than uphold the law of the land? Our Corporators have never contributed anything positive to the city except for making themselves wealthy and strengthening the hold of their goons on whatever rackets they are running.

BMP corporators fume over demolition drive
Members cutting across party lines demanded the suspension of engineer Devraj and said they were ‘kept in the dark’ about the drive.
Deccan Herald

Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Corporators on Wednesday took exception to being kept in the dark by their officials while undertaking a drive against encroachments in their respective wards. Noisy moments prevailed at the BMP meeting with members cutting across party lines demanding the suspension of its Central Enforcement Division Executive Engineer Devraj.

The case causing the Corporators’ ire was the demolition and clearance drive on footpath encroachments undertaken along OPH Road in Shivajinagar, last Saturday, reportedly without informing the area corporator Mumtaz Begum.

Noting that structures from the British days that were not encroachments, were also damaged by the demolition team, Ms Begum demanded that the owners of these structures be compensated. Supporting her, many corporators noted that people can be better convinced to move out from encroached areas when the elected representatives are involved.

But Commissioner Jyothiramaligam explained that the drive per se was not a violation by the BMP. Both the Police and Lokayukta had written to BMP about these encroachments and the latter was bound by law to co-operate he said.