Bangalore Days-Demolished by corruption

Recently Bangalore Municipal Corporation has started a demolition drive in the city to clear what they call “illegal” encroachments. The officials demolished thousands of houses, citing encroachment of lakes and connecting canals. While doing so they relied on a 1905 British map of the city. Citizens are shocked and the tales of destruction are heart breaking.

The officials argue that most of the structures are built on canals or Rajakaluve as they are called in Kannada, which were built by the British to connect different lakes.

There used to around 600 lakes in the city some forty years ago but  now about 50 lakes exist and most of them are dead or in the process of being encroached upon by builders who are encouraged by corrupt municipal officials,corporators and politicians.

This is all started with software and outsourcing boom happened in Bangalore in the last twenty years .A large number of MNCs set up their software development centers here and made the city the hub of their outsourcing services providing service to clients from all over the world .A lot of software parks and offices were build and it brought a lot of jobs and prosperity to the city .People from all over the country came here and made the city their home .This resulted in a heavy demand for housing .A construction boom followed with construction of houses and apartment complexes and malls happening in a rapid pace all over the city .But there was no control or regulation on how this is being done .From here started the misery of Bangalore .

Builders with support of corrupt municipal officials, coroporators and politicians encroached most of lakes, lake beds and canals .The houses and apartments  were built in these places  which blocked free flow water between lakes.

Unsuspecting common man bought houses and apartments built on these places, with loans approved by Banks. Most of them have all the necessary valid documents issued by the Government and BBMP like possession certificate,A Katha,Encumbrance certificate .They built their houses as per plans approved by the municipal corporation. They are paying their property taxes regularly and have valid electricity and water connections. Suddenly their houses are under the threat of demolition and their livelihood is in danger .Now the officials say that most of these  documents are fake, forged by corrupt officials and action will be takes against them.

Recently there were instances of heavy flooding in many newly developed areas and it was happening year after year .Previously there used to be canals through which lakes were connected and water used to drain through them even if there was heavy rains. But new constructions blocked these canals and the government decided to demolish all unauthorized constructions.

But the question is how to go about it? Desperate Government realized that there were no authentic records or maps which will guide them, so they decided to make 1905 map prepared by the British as basis for carrying out the demolitions and most of houses destroyed are of common man who built or bought them with their hard earned money and have all the necessary records to prove it .The officials moved in suddenly and without warning or any notice started the demolition .It is very difficult to listen to heart rending tales of common people who lost everything they have one fine morning .Another ridiculous argument of the officials is that they are demolishing houses built on canals connecting lakes but in reality most these lakes do not even exist as they are already been encroached upon and houses were built on it

Now who is to blame for this mess? The Government says it is the common man to be blamed as they built houses on encroached lands .This is a ridiculous argument as they have all the necessary approvals from the municipal corporation which is part of the Government .The real culprits are the municipal officials from bottom to top ,

Corporators of all parties and builders most them are benamis for reputed politicians.

When the public outrage grew Government assured that strict action will be taken against all those responsible for the mess and just to show registered cases against some officials. Public anger is raging against the Government and the corrupt officials and politicians and every one is of the opinion that only the houses of the common man will be demolished and big builders and politicians who are big time encroachers will not be touched .If that happens the Government will have to pay a heavy price for it in future.