Encroachments stay despite court order

Encroachments stay despite court order
‘Pressure From Politicians, Police Has Prevented Eviction’

Times of India

Bangalore: The service road of West of Chord Road, from the water tank to Maruti Mandir, has been encroached upon by vegetable vendors. Despite a high court order 20 months ago to the BCC to remove the encroachments and relocate the vendors, the authorities have not been able to execute the court order. Reason: Pressure from local elected representatives and lack of police support which is deterring the eviction operations.

The area in question is the service lane adjoining the Vijaynagar bus terminal. The service road is narrow and highly congested as there are several commercial establishments. The drain on the road was closed by the vendors who have set up 77 shops on it under the aegis of Vijaynagar Footpath Fruits and Vegetables Vendors’ Welfare Association.

Local residents had approached the court seeking relief. In its order in April last year, the court had observed that the “situation is so chaotic that it is necessary to remove the encroachments along the service road’’ and had directed the BCC to evict the hawkers and relocate them to a nearby place.
Subsequently, the BCC constructed 77 4ftX5ft shops in the vicinity and 53 vendors have already paid Rs 3,600 each for the shops for a lease period of two years.

But now, backed by the support of the local elected representatives, the vendors are refusing to move. “Politicians are putting pressure on the engineers not to carry out demolition operations.
The strong political lobby in Vijaynagar also has a major influence on the transfer of engineers in the BCC. Hence nobody wants to rub them the wrong way. Even the local police have not responded positively when approached for security during eviction operations,’’ BCC officials pointed out.