BBMP falls in line after HC wrath

BANGALORE: Make-shift houses made of asbestos sheets were taken off and over 40 houses were demolished by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at Domlur Layout on Wednesday to provide connectivity to land-locked homes with no access road. BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah inspected the demolition and also visited the area to assess the connectivity problems ahead of High Court court hearing on the issue on Thursday.Arrangements for displacedOn Wednesday morning, the Palike officials reached Domlur Layout situated off Inner Ring Road and informed the residents of the slum, mostly daily wage labourers and maids working in the affluent Rama Reddy and Domlur Layouts, to vacate.“Space has been provided to accommodate eight families on the other side of the ring road. For the other thirty- odd families, it will take time to provide alternate accommodation,” the BBMP commissioner said. BBMP executive engineer for Shanthi Nagar said that the others would now temporarily squat on a private-owned land near the layout.When The New Indian Express spoke to the people whose homes were vacated, they did not seem to harbour any ill-feeling towards the BBMP. “Our MLA N A Harris said he will look after for our welfare. We are grateful to him as he constructed a water tank for us in the slum so that we will have access to basic civic amenities. We always knew we will be asked to vacate. But do not think it would be because he decided to fight for the cause of the more affluent and rich people in the area,” said a woman who was unable to report for work as maid on Wednesday due to the disruption in their daily routine. Several women were found taking shelter and moving their belongings to make-shift houses of people squatting on a private land in the area.CommotionEarlier in the day, when Palike people arrive to create access to over 1,000 families living in residential apartments and independent homes in Rama Reddy Layout by removing debris on the road built on land belonging to the Department of Defence, several Defence personnel opposed the move and the blocked the entrance.But the BBMP officials explained that they were only making the stretch motorable and everyone should should wait for the court’s decision to decide on the issue.Siddaiah was accompanied by officials, Shanthi Nagar MLA NA Harris and prominent resident