BANGALORE: Finally, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities have succeeded in clearing a 20-year-old encroachment near its Jogupalya ward office. It may be recalled that The New Indian Express had published a news report titled ‘Cow-friendly intruder takes over BBMP bullock cart shed’ on May 3, 2010.Expressing happiness over the BBMP’s action, a resident of 1st Cross, Jogupalya, said: “I’m happy over BBMP’s success in evicting the encroacher. I want the BBMP authorities to utilise the land for a better purposes.”Meanwhile Jogupalya Corporator Gautam Kumar said that BBMP plans to extend Gundappa Park by including the land that was recovered from a encrocher. “I want to demolish the structure of the defunct Urdu School and mutton stalls in the area to extend Gudappa Park. I will take up the work after the completion of widening the 1st Cross Road. I have already requested the BBMP to sanction `85 lakh to convert the recovered land into a park,” said Kumar. When the initial report was published, a person had been using the shed (measuring around 3,000 sq ft) meant for parking bullock carts as a cowshed. He used to draw Cauvery water from the supply meant for a nearby toilet to wash cows among other things. Corporator Gautam Kumar claimed that it was illegal occupation of a BBMP property.Efforts of local corporators to vacate him was in vain. It was alleged that BBMP authorities, who were supposed to protect the property of civic body, colluded with the encroacher. “The BBMP authorities used to collect money from the encroacher. Otherwise, how could they allow him to use the shed for commercial purpose for all these years,” questioned a a resident on condition of anonymity.
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