68 buildings face demolition in new drive from Monday

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will resume demolition of buildings on Monday to clear encroachments on storm- water drains in many parts of the city.

Encroachments on drains in Mahadevapura, Yelahanka, Bommanahalli and Dasarahalli zones of the BBMP will be cleared during the drive. By December 24, the civic body aims to demolish 68 buildings and reclaim 92 vacant sites developed on drains. The reclaimed sites will be dug up for rebuilding the missing drains, BBMP chief engineer (stormwater drain division) Siddegowda told DH.

Most of the buildings set to be demolished are in Ananthapura village, Yelahanka zone, and Hoysala Nagar in Vaddarapalya ward, Mahadevapura zone, he added.

Sixty structures face demolition in Hoysala Nagar while four buildings will be brought down in Chokkasandra, Dasarahalli. A Škoda showroom in Singasandra village will also be pulled down. Of the 92 sites identified as encroaching on drains, 42 are in Attur ward, Yelahanka zone. On Friday, the BBMP took possession of 32 guntas of land in Yelahanka and dug up an 800-metre trench on it.

The state government cracked down on encroachments on storm water drains following torrential rains on July 28 that caused flash floods in many parts of southern and southeastern Bengaluru, especially Madiwala and Electronics City.

During the drive, the BBMP demolished a number of houses for being built on drains, though the owners claimed they had perfectly legitimate property documents.

The BBMP stopped the encroachment clearance drive for sometime. It is now resuming it following strict instructions given by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a review meeting last week.

Crackdown resumes

By December 24, the BBMP aims to demolish 68 buildings and take over 92 vacant sites developed on stormwater drains.
Most of the buildings are in Hoysala Nagar in Vaddarapalya ward.
Most of the vacant sites are in Attur ward, Yelahanka.