Eyeing the elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the State government has proposed to give houses built by the Bangalore Development Authorities (BDA), free of cost to the poor families whose houses were constructed on the lake-beds where anti-encroachment drive was carried out recently by the Bengaluru Urban District Administration.
Transport Minister R. Ramaliga Reddy, who is also In-Charge Minister for Bengaluru, told presspersons on Thursday that a proposal was given to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on providing houses built by the BDA free of cost to poor families. Deputy Commissioner V. Shanker has been asked to submit a list of families whose houses had been totally demolished.
Bengaluru Urban District authorities demolished more than 200 houses/flats built on lake-beds in Bengaluru. Houses/flats developed by BDA would be given free of cost only to poor families. BDA houses/flats would not be given to families whose houses had been partially demolished. Ultimately, the Chief Minister, who holds the BDA portfolio, would take a decision on providing sites/houses/flats developed by BDA, Mr. Reddy said.
Mr. Reddy said that the Joint Legislative Assembly Committee on Land Encroachment of lake-beds in Bengaluru is also likely to recommend compensation for families who have lost houses during the demolition drive. The committee headed by K.B. Koliwad visited lake beds in the city and gathered first hand information on encroachments.
