Noticing the failure of the official machinery in preventing unauthorised constructions around the Tippagondanahalli (T.G. Halli) reservoir catchment area, the Karnataka High Court on Friday directed Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) officials to work on three consecutive days, including two holidays, to verify details of unauthorised structures in 23 villages.
These villages fall under zone 3 of the catchment area, comprising areas within a kilometre from the banks of Arkavati and Kumudavati rivers.
The court directed the BDA Commissioner to constitute 23 teams to visit these villages over the weekend and on Monday, and submit a report on December 17.
It made it clear that team leaders would be accountable if even a single unauthorised structure is left out of the verification process.
Justice A.N. Venugopala Gowda passed the interim order while hearing petitions filed by owners of some industrial units and godowns in zone 3, questioning the notices issued by the BDA for demolishing the structures.
‘Purpose defeated’ Interestingly, a report submitted by the government indicated that as against the 34 industrial units that existed in zone 3 before the categorisation was notified on November 18, 2003, around 137 units were found after notification, although this was prohibited. “This reflects very poorly on the administration and the law enforcing agencies. The very purpose of issuing notification, to protect catchment area by from prohibiting industries, sought to be defeated,” the court observed.
Public notice The court appreciated the suggestion made on behalf of the BDA that a public notice would be issued in newspapers to draw the attention of owners of all unauthorised structures to the matter, instead of issuing individual notice to owners.
“Are you so helpless? Don’t you have men and machinery? This court is at a loss to understand as to what is the difficulty for the BDA to [serve] notices on such properties,” the High Court added.
