Residents, who are crying that they lost their homes today despite having the proper documents related to their homes, are spending their time amidst the cold and dust, demanding a response from the government.
BENGALURU
Three days after the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) began its eviction operation in Saraipalya, the residents are left stranded, homeless, and living in the rubble of their homes, surrounded by sewage and dust. Three days after the demolition operation, no officials have rushed to the spot, and despite repeated pleas for help, no response has been received.
Those who lost their houses in the bulldozer operation, even though they had proper documents related to their houses, we lost our houses today. We are confused. We do not know if this is a BDA or government order. The residents have questioned why we should move out of our houses. They are standing under the debris of their damaged houses and we have been living here for the last 21 years. Now they are suddenly coming and asking us to move out of our houses, they said.
Families on the roadside: Our houses were demolished without any proper notice, under heavy police protection. We were helpless when more than 20 police personnel and JCB machines arrived and destroyed our houses. They cried saying that all the essential items, books and belongings in the house were damaged.
The families who lost their homes are now sleeping on the streets, and we have been spending three days in dirty water and dust. No one has come to listen to our situation. The authorities are asking us to vacate the land for 25 to 30 thousand. We have refused this. We do not have money to buy food right now. How can this money be an alternative to our house, the woman asked.
Many residents say that they got the property only after going through many legal checks. One person said that he bought the house three months ago for Rs 54 lakh. In this regard, I have the e-khata, electricity and water bills, and I also have a bill for Rs 3.5 lakh paid to the government. They said that e-khata means security. Now they are complaining that the bulldozer has destroyed our house.