BENGALURU: It is imperative to establish a separate and fast track court for speedy disposal of cases related to lake and drain encroachment, said K.B. Koliwad, Chairman, Joint House Committee on lake encroachments.
After a preliminary meeting with officials of the BBMP, Revenue and BWSSB on Thursday, he told reporters that he would hold a meeting with the high court chief justice and advocate general in this regard.
It is unfortunate that the encroachers and land sharks are holding the city to ransom. Setting up separate courts to try cases pertaining to encroachment of lakes and drains would help resolve cases at a quicker pace and enable the BBMP to provide the missing links of Storm Water Drains (SWD) and arrest flooding at low lying and areas adjacent to lakes, he said.
He also assured that meeting will be held with advocate general to hear the cases of stay and injunctions. They would be disposed off at the earliest too, Mr Koliwad added.
Later, while inspecting the flood affected Kodichikkanahalli he took stock of the situation and directed the BBMP and BWSSB to complete the pending work at the earliest.
He also took forest department to task and directed them to cooperate with the BBMP in desilting of drains adjoining the Madiwala lake, which was under their jurisdiction.
Coming down heavily against the civic authorities he said that he had been directing officials for the last six months to be cautious and make all necessary preparations to avoid Chennai-like flood situation.
However, we had to bear with floods due to the laid back attitude of officials, he added. He also directed the BBMP officials to furnish documents pertaining to encroachments of lakes and drains on August 11.
