BBMP begins drive against encroachments

BBMP begins drive against encroachments

Special Correspondent

Main targets are small traders; parks to be next in line for clearance



Strict action: Personnel of the BBMP clearing the encroachment on a pavement at Banashankari in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has launched a weeklong drive in all the commercial areas of Bangalore South to not merely clear the encroachments on the footpath but to also reclaim some of the palike properties itself.

Properties of the erstwhile Bangalore City Corporation in several parts of Bangalore South were rented out at least four decades ago and these properties changed hands several times without the knowledge of the BBMP. Some of the open spaces belonging to the BBMP have also been unauthorisedly occupied.

Sources in the BBMP told The Hindu that the authorities had virtually lost control over some of these properties, including the large number of shops in the sprawling Jayanagar shopping complex and the Madivala business zone on the main Hosur road. The Madivala Market was some time ago leased out to Davanam Constructions, a private company which bid for the place.

BBMP Joint Commissioner V. Yashwanth, who is supervising the eviction drive, said the authorities had stepped in to forcibly clear the unauthorised occupation after the vendors ignored repeated warnings. The focus now was on clearing the footpaths.

After sunset on Thursday, the BBMP commenced clearance of footpaths in and around the Jayanagar shopping complex, extending it to Banashankari and Padmanabhanagar areas on Friday. The Banashankari shopping complex belongs to the Bangalore Development Authority and similar to the pavements around the Jayanagar shopping complex, this area too is packed with unauthorised encroachments.

Mr. Yashwanth said the entire south zone workforce of the BBMP had been mobilised for the task. Several truckloads of garments, plasticware and so on were seized by the authorities, which would be auctioned off later at the ward offices. “We are compelled to take stern action as the traders have not cared to adhere to rules and warnings issued to them,” he added.

The BBMP had in the past taken a lenient view and usually returned the commodities seized from the small traders after a warning.

With a large number of parks spread across Bangalore South and encroachments on the rise, the authorities have also decided to clear these spaces.

Incidentally, several temples have come up in the parks, particularly in the Lakshman Rau boulevard and at Jayanagar IV and V blocks. Yet another temple has come up at a traffic intersection in Jayanagar IV block, right opposite the Jayanagar police station. The authorities have been rendered helpless with the devotees, among others, being several important political leaders.