Is BBMP favouring the rich on demolitions?

Is BBMP favouring the rich on demolitions?

Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: Is the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) protecting the wealthy and connected in its drive against encroachments? Yes, say the residents of Puttenahalli who accuse the officials of removing the structures of the poor and ignoring the trespasses of the rich. While BBMP officials claim that they are conducting the demolition drive to remove the encroachment on the raja kaluve (primary drain) of the Puttenahalli Lake, residents contest that they are removing the encroachments on the “jogu kaluve” (secondary drain) on which the poor had constructed the buildings.

A senior BBMP official present at Puttenahalli also confirmed they were removing the encroachments on the “jogu kaluve” and that encroachments on the “raja kaluve” would be removed later. It is learnt that a huge apartment complex built by a leading developer had encroached upon the “raja kaluve,” and residents here fear that it is in this connection that they were being targeted.

On Tuesday, even as the officials started the work on constructing the drain through Annaiah Reddy and Abhay Reddy Layouts, residents said this measure may not help much as the discharge capacity of this drain was not much.

A BBMP official monitoring the work told The Hindu that they would be laying pavements on either side of the drain area.

Three schools in Puttenahalli, including Royal School and Image School, have declared a holiday.