Bengaluru: BBMP officials said they will stop clearing encroachments at 97 places along stormwater drains as they don't obstruct flow of water. The civic body will ask the revenue department to take legal action against these encroachments.
BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said the zonal commissioner concerned will file affidavits in this regard before the court.
He said the Palike identified these encroachments based on old surveys and sketches of stormwater drains. However, over a period of time, govt agencies, including BBMP, developed new stormwater drains to ensure free flow of water. A recent study about SWD encroachments revealed there is no need for BBMP to clear them in some places.
"BBMP's primary duty is clearing encroachments where they obstruct free flow of water. So, we are asking the revenue department to take legal action against encroachers where encroachments are not obstructing rainwater flow," Nath explained.
Reports from the zonal commissioners indicate there are 55 encroachments in Yelahanka zone, 20 in south, 12 in east and 10 in west zone which are not obstructing rainwater flow.
BBMP's recent data revealed 1,712 encroachments on SWDs are yet to be cleared. Of them, 197 cases are pending before the court, while 97 will be dropped from the clearance drive.