BENGALURU: BBMP has identified encroachments of SWDs by 15 well-known entities. Most are in Mahadevapura area. The encroachments were identified by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) about a fortnight before last week’s rain havoc in the tech corridor of Mahadevapura-Whitefield.
These structures are built on more than 104 survey numbers. CM Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the drive against encroachments in the city will not stop until the last encroachment is cleared and no encroacher, including IT/BT firms, will be spared.
“Eviction notices have been served on those who have built commercial buildings or houses on stormwater drains (SWDs). We will clear all of them. There is no question of sparing anyone,” the CM said.
Revenue minister R Ashoka elsewhere said that around 40 IT companies have encroached SWDs and lakebeds and the government has taken a firm decision to clear all encroachments. “The CM has given strict instructions to evict all encroachments and we are doing it. The drive will go on non-stop,” he added.
Walls, gates & roads being razed: BBMP
BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said walls, gates, roads and security rooms of encroachers are being demolished. BBMP will raze bigger buildings after the jurisdictional tahsildar issues notices in accordance with prescribed legal procedures.
According to the list prepared by the assistant executive engineer of Mahadevpura zone on directions from the zonal commissioner, encroachments have been attributed to over 15 entities including Bagmane Tech Park, Purva Paradise, RBD, Wipro, Ecospace, Gopalan, Diya School, Epsilon, DivyaShree, Prestige, Salarpuria, New Horizon College, Adarsha Retreat, Columbia Asia Hospital and Nalapad among others. These properties are located in Mahadevpura, Junnasandra, Halanayakanahalli, Doddakannahalli, Bellandur, Hoodi, R Narayanapura, Ramagondanahalli, Devarabisanahalli, Yemlur, Marathalli, Kariyammana Agrahara, Kadubeesanahalli and Challaghatta.
The list accessed by TOI shows that the encroachment in Ecospace, Bellandur is spread over at least 16 survey numbers, while the encroachment by Wipro at Doddakannahalli is found in 5 survey numbers and New Horizon College in Kadubeesanahalli in 8 survey numbers. Epsilon, Divyashree, Prestige and Salarpuria have been found to have encroached drains based on village maps. Adarsha Retreat in Devarabisanahalli is found encroaching SWDs in 8 survey numbers.
Encroachment cleared in 15 places
The BBMP on Monday razed 15 encroachments. At AECS Layout lying between Chinnappanahalli and Munnekolalu lake, a compound wall of Sai Eye Hospital and three buildings located opposite a supermarket and four compound walls were razed.
At Challaghatta, 7 compound walls belonging to Gopalan School, Mahavir Apartment complex and Spicey Garden others were pulled down. The palike has also cleared a slab constructed on SWD inside Cambridge College premises.