bbmp demolition
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials carry out demolition drive in Bommasandra area of Bengaluru on Aug 10, 2016.IANS

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)'s ongoing drive against illegal constructions in Bengaluru will demolish a portion of National Security Guard (NSG) commando Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar's house. He was martyred in the Pathankot terror attack in January.

BBMP officials have marked a pillar that needs to be removed as it was constructed over a storm water drain. Removing the pillar would also demolish Kumar's room, which was built for his marriage.

"They just marked it (Pillar of house) and left. We will have a word with officials and then decide on this," said Kumar's brother, Shashank. "We have not spoken to officials so we have no idea on what is going to happen," he added. "It's not a common man's house. It's a national hero's house. They need to consult us first," he said.

He also said that none of the officials approached them to find an alternative to the demolition drive.

"We are ready if the demolition is really required. We are just requesting them to give us some time so that we can build a new pillar across it," Shashank said.

Meanwhile, BBMP Assistant Commissioner S Alam saluted the family of the officer "for cooperating and agreeing to demolish the encroached portion."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted to Kumar's house being demolished saying, "At least we should give respect to the family which has made such a sacrifice."

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara responded to the issue saying that the government can give another plot to the family to build a new house.

The state government has taken strong action against illegal construction and has also targeted wealthy builders like Sobha, Prestige Estates, Brigade Enterprises, Adarsh Group, DS Max and Bagmane Tech Park.

"I have told the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) officials to not spare any builder or developer in demolishing their illegal structures on lakebeds or stormwater drains, as we don't want Bengaluru to turn into Chennai during heavy rains," Siddaramaiah had told reporters in Bengaluru, reported IANS.