Bagmane Group admits to encroaching rajakaluve for building its centre in B’luru tech park
BBMP survey confirms Puravankara villas built illegally on stormwater drain; residents shocked
Bengaluru: While Bagmane World Technology Centre of the Bagmane Group has admitted to having encroached upon the stormwater drains (rajakaluve) in the tech park area, it has also said that the main culprit is the adjacent Puravankara Purva Parkridge.
Bagmane World Technology Centre was among the 15 big names accused of having contributed to the flood mess in the state capital last week by encroaching upon drains. An area of approximately 2.4 meters of the drain in the IT Corridor in east Bengaluru has been encroached upon by the Bagmane Centre.
GP Chakravarthi, general manager of the Group, admitted, “We covered the drains with slabs, but only to prevent the backflow of the water from the Mahadevapura Lake. If not, our tech park would have been flooded,” insisting, however, on the role played by Puravankara Purva Parkridge Villas in the flooding of the area.
On Wednesday, a second official survey confirmed an encroachment in the Puravankara Purva Parkridge area. Two of the 140-odd villas of Puravankara Purva Parkridge are constructed near the boundary wall of the tech park and have apparently encroached upon 2.5 meters of the drains.
While a survey by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike last month had already brought to light the encroachment, the residents of the villas refuted the charges. They also approached the court, complaining that the survey had been conducted in their absence.
As a part of a second survey, in the presence of the residents, the Palike officials visited the villas on Wednesday. It was now confirmed that the villas had indeed been constructed illegally on the stormwater drains.
Now, while the executive engineer Malathi R has said that they would further act based on the decision of the court, the residents are shocked by the outcome of the survey. They have, therefore, said they would fight it out in court.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
