The Hindu 18.03.2013
Vested interests out to kill me: BBMP councillor
‘Toilets demolished to become illegal parking lots’
A BBMP councillor has filed a complaint with the City
Police Commissioner saying he is being threatened by local goons who
have muscled into public property, turning it into moneymaking parking
slots.
Dhanraj P., Dharmarayaswamy Temple ward councillor, told
The Hindu
vested interests had encroached upon public toilets constructed near
Arumugam Mudaliar Road in Kalasipalya when Pramila Nesargi was the MLA
in 1994.
“It is a market area where many vegetable
vendors come around 5 a.m. Over the years, these local goons gradually
took over the area by demolishing these toilets one by one,” he said.
They
then started renting the space for parking, charging Rs. 2 to Rs. 10
for vehicles, easily raking in quite a packet every day.
New project
“When I became the councillor, I requested for public toilets as such a market area needs the facility,” Mr. Dhanraj said.
Even
though the work order for a Rs. 20-lakh project was issued almost two
years ago, construction had been continuously delayed as the goons would
threaten the workers. But, he said, he kept up the pressure with the
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike council and the Commissioner promised
recently that work would begin in a fortnight. However, when the
labourers went to the area to undertake the work, the goons yet again
threatened them saying they would kill the councillor of the area.
“They
also threatened me directly, following which I filed the complaint with
the Kalasipalya police, Chickpet Subdivision Assistant Commissioner of
Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) and the
Commissioner requesting protection. The men who threatened me, Adimoolam
and Seena, also are wanted by the police in other cases,” he said.