The New Indian Express 19.10.2010
‘No place to walk’
BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities are ever ready to evict poor people and petty shop owners whenever they encroach a foot path.Many people appreciate the BBMP authorities’ initiative to keep footpath free from any kind of encroachment. However, the authorities do no take any action if rich and affluent people indulge in encroachment. For instance, a footpath on Plain Street has been encroached by a commercial establishment. The firm encroached the footpath by planting bamboo saplings a few years ago. Now the saplings have grown into trees but no BBMP official has had the time to have a look at this footpath, forget about taking measures to remove the bamboo trees from the footpath.
The result being the pedestrians having to get down from the footpath and walk on the narrow road thus risking their lives. “The pedestrians are prone to accidents. I expect the BBMP authorities to clear this encroachment as early as possible for the benefit of pedestrians,’’ says Amanullah Khan, a resident of Shivajinagar.
Meanwhile, Suresh, Executive Engineer, Shivajinagar Division, BBMP, has assured to take action against the encroacher. “I will depute my men to the spot tomorrow. I will take measures to clear the encroachment,’’ says Suresh.
The executive engineer has made it clear that the BBMP would not tolerate any type of encroachment.
