Freedom fighter HS Doreswamy on Dollars Colony: Apply same yardstick for demolition in Bengaluru city

BENGALURU: Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy on Thursday asked the state government to take up a demolition drive in Dollars Colony, an upscale precinct in south Bengaluru with several VIP residents, on grounds that they have constructed houses on a tank bed.

He told the media after meeting state Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy here that those who bought sites in Dollars Colony cannot plead ignorance of the existence of a tank when they acquired their plots. A common yardstick for demolition of houses constructed on tanks beds should be used against these residents as well.

“I do not know why the government is hesitant to give permission (for demolition). I demand that the government should not exempt these owners as they own sites or houses in other areas. BDA has blatantly violated all norms and formed hundreds of sites on four to six live tanks. The government must punish all who are responsible for this,” he added.

Lambasting Opposition parties for raising a hue and cry after demolition of houses in Bengaluru, he wondered where they were when officials of revenue department pulled down houses in Hoskote taluk. Now, these parties have taken up the cause of residents of Bengaluru only to gain political mileage ahead of polls to BBMP and Gram Panchayats.

“I am pained at BJP spokesperson S. Suresh Kumar’s letter saying that I am politicising the issue of encroachment drive. I need not have waited for so long if I really wanted to resort to politics,” he added.

Mr Doreswamy said he would stand by the government for the simple reason that a lot of work ought to be done by the authorities concerned. Special courts should be established within one month to try cases of encroachment of lakes, and all encroachment of tanks should be dealt without showing mercy to anyone.