As Bengaluru witnessed heavy rains and flooding in the city, BBMP took action for it to never happen again.
To prepare the city for the next monsoon as well as to avoid flooding, the state government asked BBMP to demolish all structures that encroach stormwater drains (SWD). These demolition drives were majorly carried out in Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, and Yelahanka zones.
Full Story
The State Revenue Minister R Ashok compared the demolition drive to the falling of the twin towers in Noida by saying, “Bengaluru’s illegal structures will be removed in Noida twin tower style.”
A variety of structures including ground in Gopalan College campus in Basavanagara, homes, and shops in Munnekolala, and around 25-30 buildings have been selected to be demolished on the grounds of encroachment.
#Watch | Karnataka: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) conducting a demolition drive in the Mahadevapura area, after rains-triggered floods in the city | reported by news agency ANI pic.twitter.com/LzMzpDvlzn
— NDTV (@ndtv) September 13, 2022
Additionally, apart from buildings that concern the common man, BBMP also decided to bring down structures belonging to IT companies.
“Thirty to forty IT companies have encroached the Rajakaluve in Bengaluru city and apartments will be demolished without any partiality,” said the revenue minister.
Amongst the companies being targeted for encroachment are Bagmane Tech Park and Purva Paradise in Mahadevapura, RBD in three locations, Wipro in Doddakannelli, Eco-Space in Bellandur, Gopalan in multiple locations & Diya school in Hoodi, as confirmed by BBMP in a statement, all of these stand as big companies in the Bengaluru tech landscape.
The list of IT Parks & developers who have done SWD (stormwater drain) encroachments includes- Bagmane Tech Park & Purva Paradise in Mahadevapura, RBD in 3 locations, Wipro in Doddakannelli, Eco-Space in Bellandur, Gopalan in multiple locations & Diya school in Hoodi: BBMP pic.twitter.com/Lg7nFtCaj0
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2022
Although the state government has promised to bring down all structures that encroach SWDs without any form of discrimination or bias ness, people allege that the civic body is keeping its eyes on the common man than the privileged.
However, in contrast to the government’s plans, residents argue that BBMP can make an additional effort by diverting the SWD to adjacent roads rather than demolishing their houses.
Up until now, BBMP has been successful in demolishing a compound wall at Nalapad Academy, four sheds at Shantiniketan, seven buildings and four compound wall,s and a 120-meter compound wall at Yelahanka. Besides, the government is trying to bring the city to level ground.
