Amid Kogilu row, BDA takes up demolition near Thanisandra without notices; Commissioner orders probe

Even as the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) Kogilu demolition drive is facing strong criticism, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on Thursday razed over 13 houses without any prior notice in Ashwath Nagar near Thanisandra in northeast Bengaluru.

The BDA officials and police officers, along with four earthmovers, arrived in the area at 7 a.m., knocked on the doors of houses, and asked occupants to vacate immediately, stating that an order had been issued to demolish the structures. The officials claimed that the houses had been built on the BDA land and proceeded with the demolition.

P. Manivannan, BDA Commissioner, admitted that prima facie there had been a lapse on the part of the BDA’s Special Task Force (STF), as there was no record of residents being alerted through notices. He told The Hindu that the BDA would make all arrangements for rehabilitation and bear the costs.

While the BDA maintains that 13 houses were demolished, residents said that more than 20 houses were affected. Many of the displaced families were tenants who had been living in the area for nearly five years, they said.

Plight of people

However, the affected families have refused to leave the site, despite the BDA arranging alternative accommodation in Hegde Nagar, citing fears of negative consequences if they moved away.

Asiya, 25, said she has kidney-related health issues and had been resting for several months. “Now, with nowhere to go, I am forced to stay on the streets,” she said, breaking down.

Mohammad Shafeeq, 32, pointed to his seven-year-old son with a disability, who was lying on a bedsheet on the ground. “He can’t get up, nor can he eat. What should I do? Where should I take him? Will those offering a place provide us food, water, and daily essentials?” he asked. “Many families in the area have offered us food, but how can we eat while our houses are being demolished?” he added.

Several residents in the neighbourhood provided food and water to the affected children.

Probe ordered

Mr. Manivannan told The Hindu that the BDA had constituted an STF and has been reclaiming civic body land over the past three months. “We verify documents and initiate demolition works. Even this land belongs to the BDA as per our records, but the demolition was carried out without serving notice,” he said.

According to him, the STF also demolished a few structures in two other areas on Thursday, but notices had been served in those cases. Mr. Manivannan said he has ordered a probe into the lapses, and retired Justice Niyaz Ahmed will investigate the matter and submit a report within 30 days.

Encroachments

Mohammad Sharif, a resident of the area, said that a few individuals had constructed makeshift shelters and rented them out for ₹3,000 to ₹4,000. Tenants had also paid advances ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000.

Many of them possess documents showing ownership of the sites. One family had even “purchased” a plot just 15 days ago, according to the affected residents. They alleged that the demolition drive was carried out because a prominent politician owns land nearby, despite residents holding what they claim are genuine documents.

Some affected families also produced documents, whose authenticity has not been independently verified by The Hindu, claiming ownership of the plots. However, Mr. Manivannan said he was confident that the land belongs to the BDA and that the records would be reverified.

The residents said they had purchased the land through agents, raising suspicions of illegal property sales, similar to what was reported in the Kogilu Layout case.