Urban Encroachment

Residents relieved as BBMP takes up work on Iblur Lake

Tuesday, 29 October 2019 10:59 administrator

The New Indian Express 29.10.2019

Residents relieved as BBMP takes up work on Iblur Lake

According to BBMP Commissioner B H Anilkumar, the corporation is committed to the NGT and the Legislative Committee to remove lake encroachments.

An earth mover gets rid of encroachments around Iblur Lake, in Bengaluru on Monday | EXPRESS

By Preeja Prasad

Express News Service

BENGALURU: It is celebration time for residents of Iblur, as after a five-year wait, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has finally conducted a lake encroachment drive. Members of Iblur Lake Trust, a citizen group, have been fighting for the cause.

“This was long due but it’s a good sign. There are pockets around the lake which need to be cleared as well, but this is a good start to develop and improve entire Iblur area,” says Kashinath Prabhu, a resident of the area.

Naresh Sadasivan of the Trust expressed relief on work finally getting done. “Yes, it’s been going on for five years. The only thing is that some court cases on encroachments are pending,” he told TNIE. Three court cases are still pending, with two of them going on for the past five years. Citizens also blame the revenue department, as their lawyers have not been appearing for hearings regularly, further prolonging the case.

“Phase 1 of the lake, which is rejuvenation, is complete. Phase 2 involves fencing the lake and installing a mini sewage treatment plant, a kalyani, and development of the park inside the lake,” Naresh explained. While Rs 1.5 crore was allotted for the lake, new funds are yet to come in. For now, BBMP might bring in the Iblur road development project along with the lake, to manage its funds.

According to BBMP Commissioner B H Anilkumar, the corporation is committed to the NGT and the Legislative Committee to remove lake encroachments.

MCG demolishes 500 structures

Thursday, 24 May 2018 10:39 administrator

The Hindu 24.05.2018

MCG demolishes 500 structures

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram’s demolition drive in progress at the biodiversity park on Mehrauli-Gurugram Road on Wednesday.Manoj KumarDe23 Police

To clear 7-acre encroached land at biodiversity park in a day-long drive

Nearly 500 temporary and permanent structures were razed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) in a day-long demolition drive on Wednesday to clear encroachments from over 7-acre land at the biodiversity park on Mehrauli-Gurugram Road.

Written complaint

The MCG has also given a written complaint against half-a-dozen of residents of Nathupur village at DLF Phase-II police station for registration of a case in this connection.

A team led by Additional Municipal Commissioner Y.S. Gupta and comprising 400 police personnel kicked off the demolition drive around 7 a.m. Fifteen backhoe loaders razed over 400 jhuggis and nearly 100 permanent structures by afternoon.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (DLF) Anil Kumar, four Station House Officers, 300 policemen and 100 policewomen were also present during the drive.

A press statement issued by the municipal body said that the MCG team made an announcement asking residents to remove their belongings before the drive started.

An FIR was registered against Nathupur residents and brothers Rajkumar and Jaikumar on May 15 under Sections 447 (criminal trespass) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1981.

Stating that the 350-acre biodiversity park was the lifeline of the Millennium City, MCG Commissioner Yashpal Yadav said the 7-acre of land in question had been illegally encroached upon since Nathupur village was included in the municipal area in 2008.

He said the jhuggi-jhonpri cluster on the encroached land was causing inconvenience to residents of several blocks of DLF Phase-III and that notices had been sent to the dwellers several times in the past. Mr. Yadav said the land in question will be developed into a green patch and beautified.

Warning those who have encroached upon MCG land, Mr. Yadav said the municipal body was serious about removing encroachment from its land. He added that the MCG will continue its anti-encroachment drive in future.

The 7-acre land in question had been illegally encroached upon since Nathupur village was included in the municipal area in 2008

Yashpal Yadav

MCG Commissioner

BBMP yet to remove bulk of SWD encroachments

Tuesday, 05 September 2017 11:07 administrator

The Hindu 05.09.2017

BBMP yet to remove bulk of SWD encroachments

People playing at the Begur lake that overflowed following rain for the past few days, in Bengaluru on Sunday.K. MURALI KUMAR

Of 81 acres identified, civic body has cleared only 11.21 acres that is a mere 13.8%

Over a year has passed since the July 2016 flash floods woke up the civic agencies to start adopting corrective measures. But the encroachment clearance drive that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike soon began has all but been abandoned.

Of the 81 acres identified as encroachments in the 800-km stormwater drain (SWD) network in the city, the BBMP has successfully cleared only 11.21 acres (a mere 13.8%) till date. Of the 1,953 buildings that the civic body had identified as encroachments, only 1,225 buildings have been removed.

“It is apparent why the drive fizzled out. It hit a major roadblock after they found encroachment by Ideal Homes Layout, R.R. Nagar, which had houses of VIPs, and Orion Mall,” pointed out a civic activist.

The BBMP then cited lack of surveyors deputed from the Revenue Department as an excuse to discontinue the clearance drive. The High Court, too, recently issued a set of guidelines for encroachment clearance that is also being used as a reason that slowed down the drive.

It is not just clearance of encroachments that has hit a dead-end. Even other works such as strengthening of stormwater drains and dredging do not have any great progress to boast of, citizens say. Following the recent flooding in Koramangala on Independence Day, Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George ordered the transfer of the chief engineer of drains in the civic body, against whom even Mayor G. Padmavathi had a litany of complaints for slowing down stormwater drain works. A new chief engineer took charge two weeks ago.

BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said he would take measures to immediately restart the encroachment clearance drive after the rains cease.

“During my recent visit to HSR Layout and Koramangala, some encroachments causing a reverse flow of water have come to my notice. We will restart the drive soon,” he said.

More Articles...

«
Start
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next
End
»

Page 1 of 167

HOME

Urban News