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.
