The city’s civic body has decided to write to the Department of Survey, Settlement and Land Records to deploy more staff to carry out surveys of encroachment of storm-water drains and lakes in the city. Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath held a review meeting on clearing encroachments of storm-water drains and lakes.
“BBMP is in need of more staff to survey SWDs and mark encroachments. After identification of encroachments, tahsildars have to issue orders to clear the encroachment immediately. He also directed officials to work expeditiously to vacate stay secured by property owners in the High Court in connection to encroachment,” Mr. Giri Nath said. He also directed officials to prioritise the anti-encroachment drive.
Encroachments cleared
According to the data shared during the meeting, so far, of the 3,176 encroachments identified along storm-water drains, the BBMP has cleared 2,322. The clearing of 854 encroachments is pending, while 155 cases are pending in the courts. The BBMP kick-started the process of issuing demolition orders in 487 cases. In 162 encroachments, tahsildars have issued orders for removal, and the BBMP will be implementing the orders soon.
In the last 15 days, the BBMP has removed 75 storm-water drain encroachments in Mahadevapura, K.R. Puram, Yelahanka, and Bommanahalli. The drive will continue in the coming days.
Encroachment in 159 lakes
Of the 202 lakes in the city, the BBMP has identified encroachment on 159 lakes. The officials have written letters about the encroachment to tahsildars in 140 cases, and the Revenue Department has completed a survey of about 40.
