BANGALORE: The `illegal' and `untimely' action by a `drunk' BBMP
official on a notice issued against a residential building agitated
locals and landed him in police custody.
It all happened at Panduranganagar Layout near IIM-B. On Saturday,
around 1am, Vijaykumar Patil, assistant director of town planning
(ADTP), Bommanahalli zone, sneaked into the house of K P Bhat on 3rd
main road with some workers. The family was awakened by falling flower
pots in their compound. But what shocked 65-year-old Bhat the most was
the official's threats to demolish the house as he had not responded
to a notice issued asking for the building documents.
In no-time, the inquiry turned into a war of words and road rage, with
other residnets filing onto the road at that odd hour. J P Nagar
police then had to intervene and take the official into custody.
"He was drunk and used abusive language. Bhat had already responded to
the notice. Early this week, we had also filed a writ petition at the
high court and were exppecting a stay order later in the day. There
was no need for him to be here at that hour. Even the notices he has
issued to many of us are illegal and mainly a retalliation mode. We
will fight back. He has to pay for all damages caused to Bhat," K P
Dinesh Kumar Rao, association president told TOI. Several residents
had also filed a complaint with police against Patil.
The local MLA Satish Reddy and corporator Jelly Ramesh also visted the
residents in the morning. When contacted, BBMP zonal joint
commissioner Shivabasavaiah said: "What happened was unfortunate. The
manner in which the ADTP decided to take action was incorrect and out
of law. I have proposed to suspend the official with immediate effect.
We will also hold a departmental inquiry and repatriate him to his
parent PWD department. He was not supposed to enter the house at that
hour."
WHAT CAUSED IT ALL?
Two years back, residents of the area voiced their objection to four
new commercial buildings that were being constructed by 'violating'
rules. In one year, they filed over 50 RTI applications to probe
deeper. BBMP issued notices to these buildings that still exist
`untouched due to unvacated stay orders'. Today, their fight takes an
all new turn with the sudden BBMP notices issued to them, declaring
their own houses as `unauthorised'. On Monday, members of
Panduranganagar Layout RWA finally filed a writ petition at the high
court against the BBMP, `harassed' by it.
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