Bengaluru: Chief Secretary TM Vijayabhaskar fixed seven months deadline to the BBMP to remove all the encroachment on Rajakaluve (stormwater drains) across the city. A direction was issued after a delegation led by freedom fighter HS Doreswamy met the Chief Secretary alleging that the BBMP is silent on the stormwater drain encroachment issue.

According to the sources, the BBMP authorities cite the shortage of surveyors for the delay in the removal of the encroachment. For this, the Chief Secretary asked the BBMP authorities to take the help of the office of land records.

According to the BBMP sources, the state government has fixed a target of removal of 250 encroachments per month.

It can be recalled that the encroachment of the stormwater drain is often blamed for the artificial floods in the city whenever it rains.