No word from BBMP on action taken against officials who were blissfully silent when SWDs were being encroached: HC

High Court expresses displeasure at BBMP for not framing comprehensive policy to prevent SWD encroachment. Court directs BBMP Chief Commissioner and UD Dept. officer to present views on policy on Aug. 1. BBMP has taken partial measures, but court expects more scientific solutions.

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday expressed displeasure its over the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) not framing a comprehensive policy to prevent further encroachment of storm-water drains (SWDs) despite a direction given by the court earlier.

The court said, “The BBMP has not stated anything on what actions were initiated against those encroachers and what actions were initiated against the erring officers who were maintaining blissful silence when constructions encroaching the SWDs were put up.”

Though the BBMP has has spoken about lodging criminal complaints against those who had obstructed the process of removal encroachments, no word on what action was initiated against the erring officials, the court pointed out.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice M.G.S. Kamal made these observations while hearing PIL petitions relating to issues of protection and maintenance of lakes and SWDs.

The Bench directed that the Chief Commissioner of the BBMP and an officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary of the Urban Development Department should be present in the court on August 1, next date of hearing to know their views on preparing the comprehensive scheme.

Earlier, the BBMP, in its status report on removal of encroachments, has stated that it has, as a measure to prevent encroachment of lakes, decided to erect cement polls on the boundaries of SWDs, to hold regular meeting of BBMP and revenue authorities, and to lodge criminal case against those who obstruct removal of encroachments.

These measures, the bench said, are at best can be termed partial measures, and cannot be termed as a comprehensive scheme to prevent further encroachment of SWDs.