Residents ask ‘Where is the Rajakaluve?'

Residents ask ‘Where is the Rajakaluve?'


A RR Layout resident welfare association member displaying SURESH NAMPOOTHIRI document that suggests that the layout was fully approved
Faiza HaneefFirst Published : 19 Sep 2009 08:10:33 AM ISTLast Updated : 19 Sep 2009 09:05:23 AM IST
BANGALORE: The death of 18-month-old Vijay who was washed away in a drain has turned out to be a nightmare for residents in the Royal Residency layout as the BBMP has decided to crack the whip saying that there was an encroachment of the rajakaluve.
Residents stoutly denied the BBMP’s allegations and came out with counter allegations.
They said that they have proof to show that their layout was fully approved by the responsible authorities and there was no rajakaluve as such.
The RR layout resident welfare association members complained that there is no encroachment and that their houses were constructed with the approval of the concerned civic bodies. Though the area has been developed about 10 years ago, no one had checked the encroachments in and around the layout.
The residents allege that to cover up to their inaction, the BBMP is playing the blame game. “When the layout plan has been approved by the Begur Gram Panchayat, the Bangalore Development Authority has given a No Objection Certificate and tax has been paid to the BBMP, what were all these agencies doing all this while if the layout is encroached upon?” questioned the members of the association RR layout residents association executive committee member Sudarshan said,” We have individual approval of the plans of our houses and now how can they say there is encroachment on drains and why did they approve our plans if there was an encroachment?” He explained that the tertiary drain receives rain and sewage water coming from nearby private buildings and that the drain is overloaded and overflows every time it rains.
He added that the retaining wall constructed by the residents was demolished by the erstwhile CMC and that Vijay’s death could have been avoided if the wall had been there.
“The layout developer is not responding to our calls but we have documents to prove that our houses are legal “ said another member of the association.
Speaking to Express BBMP Chief Engineer (SWD) Sidagangappa said that there has been encroachment in the layout. “ We would be able to give the details on this only after the completion of the survey which has started on Thursday from Hulimavu lake to RR layout.
The layout developer is absconding without providing us the facts and the approved papers.” he added.
He further said that the residents have not come up with the documents so far and that the BBMP could examine and go into the details only if they came up with the approved and sanctioned papers.