The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which has been maintaining that it is firm on removing encroachments, appears to have gone back on its commitment as it is carrying out a technical survey to check feasibility of alternatives to demolishing houses that have encroached stormwater drains at Rainbow Drive Layout, off Sarjapur Road.
The Palike had recently razed homes built by middle-class citizens as well as tin sheds sitting on drains. It had said homes in upscale layouts would also be dealt with same rigour.
According to sources, BBMP is contemplating diverting the rajakaluve that flows from Junnasandra Lake and passes inside the layout where it has been encroached upon. The idea is to build a separate drain that passes outside the gated community to its west.
The KR Puram tahsildar recently marked about 30 houses sitting on stormwater drains in the layout and issued notices to them. But he is yet to pass a final order on demolishing the properties.
Mahadevapura chief engineer Basavaraj Kabade told TOI that the civic body is conducting a technical survey to check if an alternative solution of diverting the drain could be worked out.
The Palike is studying the topography levels in the area apart from rain intensity. However, he did not say anything about the recent survey conducted by the tahsildar.
However, BBMP higher ups are not in the loop with regard to the search for an alternative. Special commissioner Trilok Chandra said the Palike had not thought about any alternative and no such technical survey was taken up.
