BANGALORE: In a classic case of fence eating its own crop, the city’s civic agency has masked the Raja Kaluves in city with fancy buildings. Deep down the buildings, some popular, many a landmark in Bangalore, lies the filth due to inaction. Today, on what is suppose to be a storm water drain (SWD), there are houses, apartments, hospitals, malls, commercial complexes, hotels and marriage halls. In this regard, the High Court, on August 4, had directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to demolish every structure on Raja Kaluve or storm water drain (SWD) within a month.However, even after three months, the BBMP is yet to act on the court order despite receiving a contempt notice.The BBMP which shoulders the responsibility to curb encroachments upon drain, has its own share of shops on drain. These were inaugurated by MLA Roshan Baig and the then BBMP commissioner Bharath Lal Meena.To name some, Garuda Mall, Mallya Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Raja Prakruthi Apartments, Nala Market are a few prominent buildings which grab top positions on the list of encroachments. Ironically, the BBMP is yet to question the promoters of these establishments, though it continues to bring down smaller constructions in the name of clearing encroachments.Overall, there are about 540 structures scattered along the entire stretch of the Raja Kaluve. There are more than 700 shops built on the storm water drain on Lal Masjid Road, Mir Obedulla Road, Old Bamboo Bazar, Jama Masjid Road in Shivaji Nagar area.Earlier, the BBMP had demolished nearly ten shops on Lal Masjid Road and had abandoned the move following opposition of the shop owners.Now, stench surrounds that area. This has resulted in health hazards since there is no other outlet for flow of drain water.When contacted, BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah said, “In one-and-half months, we will demolish all the encroachments on the SWD. We have already surveyed the entire stretch of the SWD and I have strictly instructed the officials not to compromise on this drive.” “We will demolish all the encroachments no matter to whom it belongs, whether it is hospital or a big mall, we will demolish eventually.Nala Market is built for temporary purpose,” he claimed.Meanwhile, the High Court, acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one, S Umesh, seeking directions to clear encroachments on the main storm water drain granted permission to file details, if, the authorities failed to adhere to orders. The BBMP, in its report dated August 30, intimated the petitioner that of the 540 encroachments identified in eight zones , 396 have been cleared, achieving 72.96 per cent of the target.The east zone tops with 331 encroachments, of which 269 have been cleared and of the 13 encroachments identified in west zone, four have been cleared.Twenty-two of the 72 encroachments in the Dasarahalli zone too have been cleared. The report claims cent per cent clearance record in south zone, Bommanahalli and Yelahanka. In fact, a recent survey suggests that Baptist Hospital alone has encroached upon 16 guntas of the drain.The BBMP demolished houses and shops but did not bother to touch big constructions. The petitioner complained that, from past two months, the BBMP has stopped giving its report on the demolition drive.On November 11, the petitioner filed a contempt of court case stating that BBMP was not following the court’s directions.Hearing the petition, the court issued contempt notice to BBMP and Urban Development Department on the same day. “It is not a one day job.People have encroached the SWD from 30 to 40 years and we are not super human beings to bring down all of it in just one day.We are doing a survey and it will take another two months. We have demolished 17 buildings so far. There are more than 2,500 families which have encroached the SWD. We will act against all of them,” said Ananthaswamy, Chief Engineer, SWD. Will BBMP act strongly against all and clear the encroachments completely? Will there be no floods or blocked drains? To these doubts, all we can say is, only time will tell.
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