BENGALURU: Though the high court has directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to clear encroachment on footpaths, the civic body is using it to stock materials seized during its drive against illegal hoardings. Advertisement poles and other materials have been stocked on a footpath at Austin Town, putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.
Tough time
Children going to the nearby Government Tamil school face a tough time as the footpath has been completely encroached upon. It is a semi-commercial area and a large number of pedestrians also use this footpath.
Ironically a month ago the Palike authorities had chalked out zone wise programmes to evict footpath encroachments. Kathyayini Chamaraj, Executive Trustee, CIVIC, has said that it shows the callousness of BBMP engineers and authorities towards the high court order and safety of pedestrians.
In some areas heaps of garbage, debris and other wastes have been dumped on the footpath, causing impediment to pedestrians, she said. The public must take photographs of footpath encroachments and give it to the advocate appearing for the petitioner in case of footpath encroachments. This way, the court will pull up the BBMP too, Kathyayini suggested.
However, she added that the new BBMP administrator and commissioner have been doing a commendable job by asking people to lodge online complaints. Alternative Law Forum member Vinay Srinivas said that the BBMP authorities are showing casual approach towards public and not concerned about pedestrian safety.
Senior citizens, children, physically challenged and school children are being put to hardship. They are forced to walk on the streets, he added.
Not obeying HC order
The BBMP authorities are interested in driving poor vendors from the footpath, but are not abiding by the Karnataka High Court’s order to ensure smooth and safe movement of pedestrians.
BBMP commissioner G. Kumar Naik told Deccan Chronicle that it is foolish to stock materials on footpath and assured that steps will be taken to clear the obstructions at the earliest.
