Residents who lost part or whole of their properties to the demolition drive being carried out by BBMP in the past month, may soon be compensated for their loss.

Akram Mohammad reports for The New Indian Express that a proposal has been sent to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that seeks to provide compensation to the affected house owners.

BBMP Mayor BM Manjunath Reddy and Dinesh Gund Rao met Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, to raise the issue. Siddaramaiah is reported to have assured them of taking a decision soon. The compensation would be distributed to the families depending upon the extent of their loss. 

The recent inundation of the city had brought to the fore, the encroachments of storm water drains, following which the BBMP undertook a demolition drive across Bengaluru to pull down the illegal structures.

Admitting that the responsibility for removing encroachments lies with the officials, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told TNIE that alternative sites may be given to people affected by the drive.

“In most cases, the fault is of the officials who converted the storm water drains to construction sites. It is not the mistake of the residents. The state is identifying the officials responsible for such irregularities and will initiate action against the culprits,” he was quoted as saying.

Hearing a petition filed by officials against whom BBMP has initiated legal proceedings for clearing construction on storm water drains, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday asked whether a compensation mechanism was in place.

“Where do these people (who lost their houses) go for cover? Is there any compensation mechanism? Nobody is talking about these aspects,” Justice Byrareddy said.