Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other ministers have blammed illegal encroachments of land for the massive waterlogging due to heavy rains, which recently wreaked havoc in Bengaluru. A day after CM Bommai warned stern action against encroachments on rajakaluve in Bengaluru, state Revenue Minister R Ashok asserted that by next monsoon, the government will clear all pending demolitions.
"By next monsoon, we've to clear all pending demolitions... all apartments will be led off, as you saw in Noida. Action to be against officials and builders. Discussion regarding Bengaluru floods happened in the Assembly," Revenue Minister R Ashok said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Also read | Hyderabad: Eight Dead After Fire Breaks Out At E-Bike Showroom, Several Injured. PM Modi Expresses Grief
Meanwhile, the city's civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) began a demolition drive on Monday after CM Bommai asserted that the anti-encroachment offensive would be done on a large scale. A team of BBMP initiated the demolition drive at eight places, in and around Bellandur in the Mahadevapura zone.
According to news agency PTI, the BBMP identified at least 10 places in the Mahadevapura zone, which were choking the flow of rainwater, including a building, playground and garden of a prominent private school which encroached stormwater drain and the next challenge before the authorities is to raze an elite apartment right next to the school
After the recent downpour in Bengaluru, which the city to a standstill, CM Bommai blamed the previous Congress governments, he alleged that the waterlogging is due to the maladministration of previous Congress regime.