Will BBMP act against big fish?

BANGALORE: If you think the 800-km-long Raja Kaluve in the city is built exclusively for carrying sewage and rainwater, hold your breath. For, it is far from the truth.On what is primarily a main storm water drain (Raja Kaluve), there are residences, apartments, hospitals, malls, commercial complexes, hotels, marriage halls and what not. In a classic case of fence eating the crop, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which has to ideally monitor and curb encroachments upon the drain, has built shops on it. Overall, there are about 540 structures scattered along the entire stretch of the Raja Kaluve on Bellary Road.Garuda Mall, Mallya Hospital, Baptist Hospital and Raja Prakruthi Apartments are just a few prominent ones figuring on this notorious list. The BBMP has not yet bothered to question the promoters of these establishments, even as it busy bringing down the smaller constructions and structures.Meanwhile, the High Court acted on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Five Year Law Course Advocates’ Association President S Umesh seeking directions to clear all encroachments on the main storm water drain. It has ordered eviction as well as granted permission to the petitioner to file details, in case authorities concerned fail to adhere to its orders.On August 4, the High Court issued the final warning directing the BBMP to evict all illegal structures and constructions on the Raja Kaluve within a month. One-and-a-half months have passed since then, but the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike still is turning a blind eye, especially towards the ‘big fish’.The Palike, in its report dated August 30, intimated the petitioner that, of the 540 encroachments identified in eight zones of the city, 396 have been cleared, achieving 72.96 per cent of the target. The east zone tops with 331 encroachments, of which 269 have been cleared and of the 13 encroachments identified in west zone, four have been cleared. Twenty-two of the 72 encroachments in the Dasarahalli zone, too, have been cleared. The report claims cent per cent clearance record in south zone, Bommanahalli and Yelahanka.While the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike did start the demolition work of 62 shops in Shivajinagar, it was stopped soon on its tracks following protests from shop owners. It is, however, yet to initiate any action against the big illegal constructions, including Garuda Mall, as some of the owners have filed a writ petition challenging the notice issued by BBMP authorities.Ananthaswamy, who took charge as the chief engineer of the SWD more than a month ago, is still not aware of these developments. “I don’t have any information on this,” he said. This is when a BBMP report clearly states that some corporation shops have been constructed on the drain in Shivajinagar Market.In fact, a recent survey suggested that Baptist Hospital alone has encroached upon 16 guntas of the drain. But Dr  Chandy Abraham, deputy director of the hospital, refuted it, saying, “We have not built the hospital on the drain. Somebody has given wrong information.”Umesh, however, maintained that the hospital authority had illegally encroached upon about 16 guntas and constructed some blocks on that. “If the hospital didn’t demolish the buildings, it would lead to contempt of court,” he said.Now, amid allegations that Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike officials have got their palms greased by the biggies, Umesh has decided to go ahead and file a contempt petition against those who have not followed the court order.