Unauthorized buildings will be “razed like the Noida Twin Towers,” a Karnataka Minister has warned, days after flooding and torrential rain all but paralysed Bengaluru.
The civic council of Bengaluru has identified more than 700 encroachments that are thought to have obstructed storm water drains throughout the city, resulting in significant floods in the IT hub known as India’s Silicon Valley. The demolition campaign will go on until the encroachments are removed, according to R Ashoka, the revenue minister for Karnataka.
“We will raze illegal constructions on the lines of the Twin Towers demolished recently,” said the minister, referring to the controlled explosion to tear down the Supertech towers, which were constructed illegally.
3,700 kg of explosives detonated the buildings, which were taller than the Qutub Minar, in a matter of seconds. “We will take action against the builders and officials who had granted permissions,” said Mr Ashoka.
The minister accused the Congress of approving proposals for structures close to more than a dozen lakes. “The government before 2005 allowed layouts for buildings on 13-14 lakes. That’s the main problem,” he said.
Since yesterday, bulldozers and excavators have been working throughout the city to remove what they refer to as illegal structures on storm water drains that contributed to flooding there. Storm water drains have reportedly been clogged by residential buildings, schools, and parks, according to officials. According to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, nobody will be spared.
“I have given a clear direction to the officials to remove the encroachment whoever has built structures on the stormwater drains and interrupted the flow of rainwater. This I have made very clear on day one. There is no question of any partisanship on the issue…,” the Chief Minister said on Monday.
“Whoever they are, we will not spare them. Everybody suffered during floods, be it IT-BT people or the common people,” he said.
According to Mr. Bommai, the drive won’t end until encroachments are removed.
Source: NDTV
