The BBMP is expected to initiate action to clear encroached storm water drains (SWD) from the end of this month.

G
C Prakash, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Bangalore Urban, spoke about the
issue on Thursday after handing over a survey report on the same to BBMP
chief engineer H C Ananthaswamy.

Prakash said 44 land surveyors
from the Revenue Department had prepared the report. The survey, which
was intended to cover 251 villages, had already been completed in 227
villages and the remainder would be covered within 15 days, the DC said.

“Of
the 650 km of storm water drains across the city, about 200 km has been
encroached upon by sections of the public and influential people.
Encroachments have been identified in 34 villages in Bangalore North, 39
in North taluk (additional), 77 in South, 73 in East and one village in
Anekal taluk,” Prakash said.

Speaking to Express, Ananthswamy
said the Palike had also documented instances of encroachment and
clearance operations would begin from January-end. “We are yet to know
the complete scale of encroachments. We could take up clearance of
around 10 km of encroached SWDs everyday. We will also take the help of
officials of Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF). Encroachers
cannot obtain a stay from the courts as the judiciary has already
ordered the removal of encroachments,” he said.

Ananthswamy said it would take one year to complete the task of clearing encroachments in the outlying areas.

He
said, at present, BBMP was compiling data and in the next 15 days,
details about encroachments would be uploaded on its website. “This is
for the information of the public. People who are buying plots or
properties on encroached land can crosscheck with this data. It will
also serve as a warning to encroachers,” he added.