BENGALURU: Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has warned the public that if they do not remove the encroachments themselves, they will have to bear three times the cost of the demolition, which will be added as tax.
BBMP said bulldozers, among other things, increase the cost of demolishing a structure. It is therefore much cheaper if the people themselves carry out the demolition.
With the authorities getting tough on removing encroachments on stormwater drains, people were seen carrying out the demolition themselves. BBMP Chief Engineer (Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone) Nagaraj said, “We are removing encroachments using public money. Why should we spend this money on removing illegal encroachments?”
On Thursday, the demolition drive was carried out at Halagevaderahalli in R R Nagar. “A portion which belongs to Rajarajeshwari temple, near Padmavathi Kalyan Mantap, was demolished,” an officer said.
Bettegowda, Chief Engineer (Bommanahalli zone) told Express that cases related to eight properties in Avani Sringeri Layout of Arekere Ward were before the court. “We got the stay vacated on Wednesday. On Thursday, we took these properties into our control,” he said. On Siddaiah Road, BBMP officials marked eight properties that are to be razed or partially demolition. “It is a narrow road. Our vehicle cannot move there. So people are demolishing the structures themselves,” he said.
In Mahadevapura zone, BBMP officials did not conduct any demolition. Muniveerappa, BBMP Joint Commissioner (Mahadevapura zone) said they conducted a survey at Kasavanahalli near Yelahanka. “Once the survey is complete, we will proceed with the drive,” he said.