DKS effect? SWD encroachment removal drives target glitzy infra

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike on Monday resumed its drive to clear infrastructure encroaching Storm Water Drains (SWDs), this time in Mahadevapura’s Doddanekundi. After Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar took a stroll in the city along with officials, BBMP has been in full action since then.

The civic body’s officials demolished a swimming pool, clubhouse and a compound, which was a part of the ‘Ferns City’ apartment complex, apart from a wastewater treatment plant mainly through JCBs. However, the Ferns City owner produced an injunction from the Karnataka High Court dating back to September 2022, following which the demolition of the premises was stopped.

Other infrastructure demolished was four shops and one car service centre in Hoysala Nagar in KR Puram’s Horamavu subdivision. Moreover, six shops encroaching upon Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) land earmarked for a garden were demolished in Narayana Nagar second phase which falls in the Bommanahalli area. The exercise was carried out under the leadership of BBMP engineers and tehsildars.

BBMP engineer Lokesh said that more than 40 police personnel had been deployed for the protection of the team. It is to be noted that BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath had set aside a 15-day deadline on June 15 for the officials under his department to comply with the order to clear encroachments on SWDs.