Avani Shringeri Nagar turns into a ghost town

BENGALURU: Josana L, a resident of Avani Shringeri Nagar in Arekere, had no inkling she would be spending this August in a relative's house. She has been here for the past 20 days with her 5-year-old child, after the demolition drive which began on August 7, mowed down their home.
The house Josana and her husband built with much pride on a 30x40sqft plot, for which they took a loan of Rs 30 lakh, now lies in a shambles."Now we have no home. How long can we stay at a relative's house? The roof over our heads has been snatched, and my husband is the only working member of the family," said Josana. "The drive should have started from top to bottom. Let's see if they have the guts to touch the ‘big' people. We don't have any power and no control, so we have been targeted."
In fact, Avani Shringeri Nagar is beginning to resemble a ghost town, abandoned by dwellers fleeing a war. Half-broken buildings with earth and debris piled high...
Debris piled up after the recent demolition drive at Avani Shringeri Nagar in Bommanahalli is yet to be removed. (Photo by Md Asad)
Uma S Murthy purchased a vacant site 20 years ago in the same layout as an investment. "We are settled in Mumbai but wanted to buy and build a house in our home town. The site has zero value now. We spent Rs 3 lakh then, and liked this area because it was a nice neighbourhood close to Bannerghatta Main Road. I don't know what we'll do with it now."
SV Anantha Padmanaba, a senior citizen who built a house in the layout to live independently post retirement, is now suddenly dependent on his children. "I don't have a single paisa to rebuild my house. I spent all my savings on it, close to Rs 60 lakh. My sincere request to officials is to give me a new BDA approved site with all facilities, and compensation to rebuild the house."
The opposition party headed by former deputy CM R Ashoka has put forth three demands before the government. He and a few opposition party MLAs inspected the storm water drain work in the layout on Monday afternoon and interacted with the aggrieved citizens.
"This is some sort of revenge. There is zero clarity on the way demolitions are being carried out. What is the plan they are following? There are so many starting from the British era. We demand an immediate stop to the demolitions. All lake and raja kaluve lands should be clarified by the government immediately," he said.
Comparing how other cities were dealing with flooding, Ashoka said no other government has demolished people's homes. "Also look at the selectiveness! Why are malls, big buildings and hospitals not being pressured? They have time to resurvey and the government will continue ‘thinking' about demolishing these properties," he said.
However, residents who lost their houses have lost hope in the government. "If these people who are visiting us are so concerned, they should have come on the first day of the demolition and stopped it from happening," said a resident who did not wish to be named.