Sealing splits Sadashivnagar

Sealing splits Sadashivnagar
Deccan Herald

A clash of the elite and the common man is unfolding at Sadashivnagar in the City if one goes by the version of the traders and property owners who are affected by the sealing drive against land-use violations launched by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP).

On Thursday, the BMP sleuths sealed six more buildings in the area taking the number of buildings sealed since Friday last to 31. The branch offices of two banks — Central Bank of India and Centurion Bank — were among those sealed on Thursday.

“Not everyone can afford a private vehicle and attendants. The BMTC buses don’t ply in this area, autorickshaws shun these limits too (as they don’t get many pick-ups). What do I do then? I need the milk booth, bank, pharmacy, dhobi and the general stores at walkable distance...” said Malathi Naik, a resident. And that about summed up the collective voice of the affected residents.


It was also noted that the property owners of these commercial outlets in residential limits have been by large paying property tax, electricity and water bills at commercial rates on their rented premises. If the BMP has collected property tax on commercial rates, where is the question of violation, is their query.

Like in the Koramangala case earlier, the BMP’s action in Sadashivnagar too has come as a follow-up to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a residents’ group of the area, Sadashivnagar Residents Welfare Association. The difference is that, while the Koramangala case pertained to both building bylaw violations and zonal norms, the Sadashivnagar case is limited to zonal norm violations — the use of residential structures for commercial activity — only, BMP officers said.

Ire against elite

The PIL on the violations in Sadashivnagar pertains to the by far elite Ward 99 limits. Some of the who and who of the political and bureaucratic circles dwell in this area. Now that the law is catching up with them, the affected sections are spewing venom on their so-called “upper class” neighbours.

“The Sadashivnagar Residents Welfare Association is a select group of residents. They are mostly retired bureaucrats. They don’t have a moral right to speak on behalf of us all. They could have called a general meeting of the residents before approaching the court. Why didn’t they,” fumed Mr Vinod and his friends.

“I too want to become a member of the association, but membership form is not readily available. They are reluctant to issue one,” alleged a youth who was part of the aggrieved traders on Thursday.

Some among the affected sections are members of the association themselves. “I am not a signatory to the PIL. It is the executive body of the association which decided on going to the court,” said Mr Narayanappa. He is not affected personally, but on Thursday evening, he had assembled to support the traders.

The BMP has issued notices to 95 property owners in the area. About 45 of them have managed to procure stays from the court.

IT’S a wake-up call: BMP

Bangalore, dhns: BMP Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) N Jayaram on Thursday said that the drive against land violations in Sadashivnagar was a wake-up call to residential property owners in others areas too. People from other prominent residential areas like Malleshwaram, Jayanagar and Indiranagar have been approaching the BMP, seeking action in their areas too, he said.