Shoo the encroachers,Why show mercy!

Bangalore, Oct 25, 2009: Twelve-year old Mansoor watched-on alone from a nearby high-roof house, as his home was being demolished by the BBMP. He was born in that house and it’s been there even before his birth, he said.

    But his house along with the other 63 hutments was razed down as "they had encroached the storm water drain."The BBMP official supervising the encroachment said, "It was also a preventive measure as the area is flood prone and could be of consequence." The measure thus was for their welfare, he added.

   Meanwhile, Mansoor carrying his 2-year old sister Salma quietly walked on to a vacant BDA land, while his father was seen muttering objection to any official or the onlookers, who cared to listen. They had just lost their home!

    The BBMP drive at the Tannery Road was the phase-one of driving out encroachment from near the SWD's and would be carried on in a phased manner, the BBMP official said. However, one wonders: Where would these families go? Maybe they just will have to find another vacant land to encroach upon -- build a house and live there till it’s broken again. But today, they will sleep in the open.

    A fact that even the young Mansoor knows. “Aaj tho galli may soyeangae,”(today will sleep on the street) the young 12-year old interjected as his mother took the child from his arm and asked him to carry some furniture.

64 houses go down the ‘drain’