The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Construct more flats to relocate residents of EWS Quarters'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 27, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Construct more flats to relocate residents of EWS Quarters'

Special Correspondent

POOR STATE OF AFFAIRS: A view of the EWS Quarters at Neelasandra in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: A housing complex constructed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) loan for the economically weaker sections (EWS) at Neelasandra in Ejipura has turned into a slum.

There are no basic facilities such as drinking water, road and drainage for the over 1,500 families residing in the area. Over 300 flats have collapsed owing to poor quality of construction, alleged residents.

Residents of the collapsed flats have been living under zinc sheets for shelter. "Water logging is common during the rainy season because the area is located in a low-lying zone. There is no drainage system and the sewage water gushes into some of the houses daily," complain residents.

The BMP constructed 1,512 flats (42 blocks in all with 32 flats in each block) on a 13-acre plot during 1987-92 for the economically weaker sections.

In its recent council meeting, the BMP proposed to demolish a few blocks and decided to give reconstruction work to Maverik Holdings and Investments Private Limited, promoters of Garuda Mall, says S.M. Mari of B.R. Ambedkar Youth Welfare Association of EWS Quarters.

But the Karnataka High Court, on November 16, 2006, asked the BMP not to go ahead with EWS slum reconstruction project following a writ petition filed by Akruthi Nirmal Limited. The petitioner had objected to the decision taken by the Mayor and the BMP council at the council meeting held on October 31, 2006.

Residents opposed construction work to be taken up by the Maverik Holdings and Investments Private Limited on the ground that it would acquire half of the plot to promote its business. They demanded that the Government take up construction work immediately.

Residents say, "In the last three years, commissioners and Mayors have got surveys done to identify the original allottees of the 1,512 flats in the complex. But they have done nothing to get the complex reconstructed."

Parts of the EWS complex, which was built in 1987, have collapsed several times in the last three years. Residents are under constant fear of the building crumbling down any moment. Following one such collapse of the 13 "B' block of the complex in November 2003, former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna directed the BMP to demolish and reconstruct the quarters.

In January 2005, the BMP issued notices to the residents to vacate the flats. But they refused to move out. A survey conducted by the BMP to identify the original house owners in the complex has revealed that tenants occupied 1,101 of the 1,512 flats. While 258 were owner-occupied, the rest were vacant.

"Let the BMP first construct the complex and then think of allotment. If the Government wishes, it can identify the poor and construct more flats to relocate them," said members of the Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra, Bangalore.

The residents urged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to visit the area to know the reality. "I will appeal to the area MLA R. Ashok to discuss the issue with the Chief Minister and resolve it at the earliest," X. Louis, president, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Youth Social Welfare Association, said.

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