The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demolished 77 shops located in a narrow bylane off Nala Road in Shivajinagar on Monday, as part of a demolition drive to remove encroachments on storm-water drains. Ironically, the shops were built by the BBMP nearly 70 years ago.
The shops make up the New Evening Bazaar in the bylane that is just 20 ft wide. The shops had been allotted to merchants by the BBMP, then Bangalore City Corporation. The shopkeepers have allotment letters and have been paying BBMP tax regularly.
Nisar Ahmed, 71, a shopkeeper, said that he had taken over the shop from his father. He said that the shops were legal and taxes were being paid regularly.
Mohammed Sibdatullah Khan, secretary, New Evening Bazaar Merchants Association, said that the authorities had promised to re-allot new shops within six months. The merchants had willingly given up the shops keeping faith in the promise.
He said that BBMP authorities had wanted to clear encroachments since the past two years. “But we bought some time so that we could prepare for a six-month no-business period. All the employees will be thrown out of jobs now,” he said.
However, BBMP chief engineer H.C. Ananthswamy was non-committal on rebuilding and re-allotting shops. He said that the encroachments had been removed following directions from the High Court. He said the BBMP is yet to decide on the next course of action.
