Col Niranjan's house to be partly demolished, will BBMP act against its own illegal structures?

“We will look into it and take action," said BBMP Commissioner.

news Civic Issues

Months after Col Niranjan Kumar lost his life in the terrorist attack at Pathankot air base, a portion of the martyr’s house in Dobbabommasandra in Bengaluru is set to be demolished by the BBMP.

As JCBs rolled in to Doddabommasandra in Northwest Bengaluru on Wednesday, demolishing more than 25 structures that were built on storm water drains (SWD), the residents were left in despair. The BBMP officials maintained that a circular had been issued to the residents more than six months ago, informing them about the action.

The family members of Col Niranjan Kumar, who have been living in the house for over 15 years, are upset that the BBMP wants an arch of the house to be demolished.

His brother Shashank told TOI that the family does not want JCBs to drill into the house, but has appealed to the joint commissioner to get it removed themselves.

BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad has been quoted as saying in an NDTV report that though the demolition is a painstaking task, it is undertaken for the public good.

Coming down heavily on the BBMP, the Karnataka High Court has said that the demolition drive was the result of the corporation’s inaction.

Even when residents of many areas in Bengaluru watch helplessly as their houses come crashing down, it is reported that the BBMP itself has constructed its ward offices over storm water drains.

Nandini Chandrasekhar reports for The New Indian Express that two parks have been developed by BBMP on either side of a rajakaluve (SWD) on KEB Road in Kathriguppe in Bansankari 3rd stage. Several apartment complexes have also reportedly been constructed on the SWD.

Inside one of the parks, the corporator in 2012 constructed ward offices and got a community hall built.

The ex-corporator Venkataswamy Naidu told TNIE that he had constructed the buildings after BBMP’s delay in giving him a place to build his office. Defending his decision, Venkataswamy said that the buildings have been constructed after laying a layer of mould on top of the drain.

Taking notice of complaints against BBMP’s violations, Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said that action will be taken soon.

“We will look into it and take action. We will have to check if it is an obstruction and if the local people are being affected. If it is a violation, it will be cleared. It does not matter whether the rajakaluve has water flowing or not,” reports TNIE.

Also read: Bengaluru flooding: Residents fear legal documents will be no protection from demolition