The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Residents anxious

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 28, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Residents anxious

Staff Reporter

‘I do not know how to stop them (workers)’
Residents say the Raja Kaluve passes through another high-rise building

BANGALORE: Residents of the 24th Main, J.P. Nagar, Puttenahalli, woke up to the sound of gas cutters and compressors on Thursday.

While some stoically watched compound walls and setback portions, some others objected saying the authorities were not sticking to the original alignment of the Raja Kaluve.

“I was aware that some buildings had been marked for removal in the Astalakshmi Layout. But I did not know it passed through my vacant site. Although we had left eight feet for the drain, they have removed our compound wall. This is unfair and I do not know how to stop them,” K. Venugopal said.

Debris

Prabhakar Rao, owner of Pranal Enclave in Srikanteshwara Layout where a portion of the compound wall was removed and the setback acquired, said he only wanted the workers to clear the debris and complete work on the drain. “Otherwise, the debris will block the entrance to my house,” he said.

Nisar Ahmed of Astalakshmi Layout, who claimed that his house was not on the kaluve, was worried that the officials might try to take the kaluve through his property.

His neighbour Iqbal Ahmed wondered whether the officials would demolish another high-rise, Mahaveer Citadel, in the area as the kaluve passed through its setback.

N. Shantappa, Special Deputy Commissioner (Enforcement Cell), said Sobha Developers had shown the “encroached kaluve portion as setback and thereby got an additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from the planning agencies.”

“We have removed that portion and will remove the concrete slabs that have been covered on the drain. All encroachments will be removed as per the directions of our Deputy Commissioner. On Thursday alone, we have recovered land worth over Rs. 42 crore,” he said.

A spokesperson from Sobha Developers denied they had encroached upon the kaluve. “We have all clear documents and when we showed them the papers, they stopped demolition. There was some misunderstanding,” she said.

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