Bengaluru flooding: Karnataka minister warns of "Noida towers-like demolition" drive

Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka has reportedly warned that illegal structures in Bengaluru will be razed like the Noida towers.

"We will raze illegal constructions on the lines of the Twin Towers demolished recently," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

"We will take action against the builders and officials who had granted permissions," he further added.


His statement came after the Bengaluru civic body on Monday began a demolition drive within days of the havoc caused by rains-triggered floods in parts of city.

A team of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike stated the exercise at eight places, which were allegedly causing flooding in and around Bellandur in Mahadevapura zone.

According to official sources, the BBMP identified at least 10 places in the Mahadevapura zone, which were choking the flow of rainwater, including a building, playground and garden of a prominent private school which encroached stormwater drain.

However, the big challenge for BBMP is to raze an elite apartment right next to the school.

Bengaluru's Koramangala and Marathahalli saw severe waterlogging on August 31 as a result of the heavy rainfall that lashed the city.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said there will be no partisanship in the drive to remove the alleged encroachment of the stormwater drains that were said to be majorly responsible for the floods in Bengaluru recently following heavy downpour.

“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,” he told reporters.

“There is no question of any partisanship on the issue,” Bommai added.

When asked if big companies were found to be encroaching the stormwater drains, Bommai said: “Whoever they are, we will not spare them. Everybody suffered during floods, be it IT-BT people or the common people.”

Houses in low-lying areas too have faced problems, Bommai said, adding that the work on removal of all encroachments will be completed. The Chief Minister insisted that there was a need to clear encroachment. The drive which has started will not stop, he added.

To a query whether the government will file a caveat in the court, Bommai said it has obtained directions from the court.

“Also, we will give all the information to the courts. This time we will carry out an anti-encroachment drive on a big scale".


With PTI Inputs