Revanna's building a house and guess who pays the price?

Revanna's building a house and guess who pays the price?
By: Chetan R
Date: 2009-01-16

Bangalore:

Former minister H D Revanna is building a house and people in the locality have to bear the brunt.

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's son has allegedly converted the road on which the house is being constructed into a dump yard, affecting traffic flow at Home School Circle in Basavangudi.

MiD DAY had reported about Revanna, who also chairs Karnataka Milk Federation, misusing KMF's vans to carry water to the construction site.

Road encroached

And now, construction material adds to the woes of regular commuters on a road that is congested even without the construction.

"Traffic jam till Kaveri petrol bunk has become an everyday phenomenon," said Manjunath S, a regular commuter. "It's mainly because of materials dumped here. We have complained to the local traffic police but nothing has happened."

When contacted, Panduranga Rane, DCP (west traffic), said: "I will find it out with local police station... If that's the case, we will respond immediately."

Byelaw violation?

Besides this, evidence of the construction is there for all to see in neighbours' compounds.

"We always live in fear," said a neighbour. "Despite our requests, no measures are taken to prevent material falling on our houses and vacant space in our compounds."

According to the law, a three-storey construction over 3,000 square feet should leave a 5-metre space all around which this particular construction does not do.

Also, encroaching roads by dumping material amounts to violation of Section 288(a) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, which restricts use of roads and footpaths for the purpose they are meant for.

BBMP unaware

"I'm not aware of it," said Rajgopal, assistant director, town planning, BBMP.

And the defence from Revanna's backyard: "No, construction material is being dumped in road," said Rajgopal, Revanna's personal secretary. "The construction is not affecting anybody either."