Ward-level infrastructure works will be affected as civil engineers began a dharna in front of the BBMP head office on Wednesday, alleging highhandedness by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF). The engineers alleged that they were being harassed by the BMTF, which has been questioning them for building violating by-laws and structures coming up without the sanctioned plan. Especially those serving in the newly added areas are the worst affected, said some engineers on condition of anonymity.
But civic experts said, “If the engineers are performing their duties why will the complaints be lodged? Any deviations or unauthorised constructions should not be allowed and should be brought to the notice of higher-ups.” The engineers said over 100 of their colleagues, including ward engineers and junior engineers, have been forced to obtain bail as they fear arrests in some of the cases. “This is affecting works at the ward level and demoralising the engineers,” they said.
In most cases, the engineers are made the scapegoat. They are forced not to take action because of the intervention of politicians. “We are in trouble even if the directions of politicians are not obeyed. There have been instances where engineers had to withdraw orders for demolition after politicians have tried to protect the violators,” engineers said.
Ward engineers, mostly in newly added areas, are burdened with several complaints, like lack of water, cleanliness and violations of building bylaws and plans. It is almost impossible to check the violations across their jurisdictions, they said. “Moreover, violations are higher in newly added areas as the BBMP has not been issuing khatas there,” they said. Complaints of garbage clearance too are filed before the BMTF. There had been some problems recently as there was no clarity on dumping the garbage with the Mavallipura landfill being shut.