Bengaluru: Losing a part of your home can be heart wrenching. Residents of Shriram White House apartments in R.T. Nagar are bracing for the worst.
They said BBMP has decided to demolish a part of the passageway of the apartment complex as it claims they have encroached upon 9.5 guntas of land. The residents claim the encroachment is only 2 guntas. A team from the resident’s association had moved the High Court to get a stay order on the demolition.
BBMP staff, bulldozers and police were present on Thursday to demolish the passageway.
Passersby had gathered around to get a glimpse of the demolition. A local resident who lived a street away remarked, “It is obvious they have encroached upon the ‘rajakaluve’ or the storm water drain.” An auto driver waiting just outside the complex too added, “They have encroached upon the storm water drain which leads up to Hebbal.”
The residents of Shriram White House have won the battle, but only for the time being. The apartment occupants gathered inside near the main gate of the complex and resorted to a protest. After a lot of drama and chaos, the bulldozers moved away in the afternoon leaving the apartment complex unscathed.
A team from the apartment complex had gone to the court to get a respite. Upon checking the last time, the team had not returned. For now the BBMP will only mark the areas it is looking to demolish.
According to Suresh, a White House resident, “The BBMP did not even give us a notice. They just turned up and said they wanted to demolish the compound wall and a road built inside the apartment complex.” Suresh added, “We are also insisting on our own survey so we know exactly how much we have encroached. If they are correct then we just have to accept what comes our way.”
According to Krittika Shankar, committee member of White House Apartments’ Association, “We have decided to go to court over the issue. The BBMP claims we have encroached upon the ‘Rajakaluve’. But we have stressed that we want to carry out our own survey to ensure they are right. We are protesting the BBMPs move and will do everything to ensure we get justice.”
BBMP Executive Engineer (east zone) Basavarajappa said, “The markings have been done and the demolition should progress according to schedule on Friday morning. White House has encroached 9.5 guntas of land that was part of the Storm Water Drain.” For the residents of Shriram White House this is just a temporary respite from the storm heading their way.
