BENGALURU: Citizens are expected to suffer for the inaction of civic bodies with the drive to clear encroachments on
stormwater drains (SWD) getting delayed.
BBMP officials have cited
shortage of surveyors and
lack of sketches of these encroachments for the delay.
BBMP officials say 2,087 encroachments have been identified, which are in various stages of survey, mapping and attestation, before the list can be sent to zonal deputy commissioners for implementation. Of these, 259 have been classified as “priority”, given their vulnerable location and history of flooding.
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Had BBMP engineers and officials in each zone done their jobs diligently and prevented illegal constructions in the first place, not just on storm water drains, but across the city, none of this delayed action would have been required. Due to their laxity, taxpayers are now bearing the brunt. These encroachments ought to have been cleared before the arrival of the monsoon, but that window has long closed. Lives and livelihoods have already been lost as a result of flooding due to encroachments. Should more lives be lost before the BBMP gets its act in order?
“We faced severe public backlash during the 2016 encroachment-clearance drive, with residents claiming their construction is valid, espcecially in areas like Kodichikkanahalli. Land use is dynamic and things come up overnight, hence a re-survey needs to be done of the identified encroachments so that we don’t make mistakes,” said HT Bettegowda, chief engineer (SWD), BBMP.
Ten surveyors have been deputed to the SWD wing a month ago to speed up the work and the drive has partially kicked off in KR Puram. Surveyors, ward engineers, SWD officials and zonal officers are part of the drive.
A technical engineer with the SWD department said resurvey work started after fresh deputation of surveyors, but claimed more are needed. “We have written to the revenue department several times asking for more manpower, but they are also functioning on a tight leash. While hundreds of encroachments have been identified, they need to be attested once again officially,” he added.
A senior land records department official said considering there are only 10-12 surveyors for each taluk, the “BBMP can use their services at sites once they are deputed. If the Palike think some sites need priority, then the manpower should be utilised there. The ideal method is to conduct a survey, mark the encroachment and clear it immediately. Otherwise, it is a waste of time and manpower,” he added.
The clearance drive was delayed due to shortage of surveyors and lack of sketches
