Pleas of ‘encroachers’ bulldozed

Pleas of ‘encroachers’ bulldozed
BY CHANDRASHEKAR G.
BENGALURU

Gullible people who build houses by spending their hard earned money, usually remain mute spectators when the BDA bulldozes them by giving the tag of “encroached property.” On the contrary, BBMP and BDA engineers who clear building plans and allow such constructions usually go scot-free.

Though the BDA has been taking credit for recovering encroached property in and around Bengaluru after demolishing them, the bone of contention is that who is allowing the encroachment under BDA jurisdiction.

Going by BDA’s figures, on an average, at least two demolitions are carried out every month and land worth several lakhs recovered. But the BDA has miserably failed to plug the problem at the source level.

All hell broke lose for Nanjundamma, Ajamma, Govindappa and scores of other people on July 2 at Rajarajeshwarinagar when huge machineries came bulldozing their houses.

Despite producing their property documents and khata certificates, the BDA went ahead with the demolition.

The BDA seemed determined to evict “encroachers”.

Nanjundaiah, one of the victims of the BDA demolition drive at Rajarajeshwarinagar, asked why law abiding people who have been paying property tax, betterment tax and Sakrama fee as early as 1997 when Mr H.D.

Deve Gowda had introduced these taxes during his tenure as the chief minister were being targeted.

“Hold the government guilty and book officers and engineers responsible for the deviations in plans or sanctions for such buildings.

Scores of families have been made to pay the price for no fault of theirs. And sanctioning of building plans still continues unhindered,” he said.

“No construction takes place without the knowledge of BBMP ward engineers or assistant executive engineers,” he added.

BDA commissioner Mr Siddaiah told this newspaper that the demolitions are just the tip of the iceberg.

“The encroachment on BDA land has been rampant and BBMP engineers are also granting building plans without consulting BDA authorities. A circular will be sent to all building plan sanctioning authorities be getting the subject approved at the BDA board meeting,” Mr Siddaiah said.