From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 21: In a bid to win the support of the poorer sections of people, whose houses built on lake-beds were recently demolished by the Bengaluru Urban District administration, the State Government has decided to distribute houses built by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) free of cost ahead of the ensuing elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.

Karnataka’s Transport Minister Ramaliga Reddy, who is also in-charge Minister for Bengaluru, told presspersons on Thursday that a proposal was given to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on providing houses built by the BDA free of cost to poor families.

Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner V Shanker has been asked to submit a list of families whose houses had been totally demolished.

Bengaluru Urban District authorities demolished more than 200 houses/flats built on lake beds in the city.

Houses/flats developed by BDA would be given free of cost only to poor families.

BDA houses/flats would not be given to families whose houses had been partially demolished.

Reddy said it was ultimately the Chief Minister, who holds the BDA portfolio, would take a decision on providing sites/ houses/flats developed by BDA.

The minister said the Legislature Committee on encroachment of lake beds in City is also likely to recommend compensation for families who had lost houses under the demolition drive.

The committee headed by K B Koliwad visited lake beds in the city and gathered first-hand information on encroachments.