BCC’s crackdown on illegal constructions raises accountability questions

Pic: An Illegal building being brought down as part of the corporation's demolition driveBelagavi: The Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) on Thursday intensified its drive against illegal constructions, carrying out a partial demolition of a four-storey building in the busy Maruti Galli area. The operation, executed using JCB machinery, marked a visible escalation in enforcement efforts against unauthorised structures within city limits.The demolition drew significant public attention, with large crowds gathering as portions of the building were brought down. While many residents welcomed the action as a long-overdue assertion of civic authority, the operation has also triggered controversy and raised broader concerns about governance, due process and accountability within the urban local body.A tenant of the building, Yunus Jamadar, alleged that the demolition was conducted without prior notice, resulting in substantial financial losses. "We were not given any time to vacate or remove goods. Materials have been seized, and we have suffered losses worth several lakhs," he claimed, demanding compensation. Such allegations have brought into focus questions over whether procedures were adequately followed during the drive.The incident has also shifted attention towards the role of the corporation's town planning and revenue sections related to lapses in monitoring, verification and enforcement. Concerns are also being raised over how buildings that reportedly flouted norms were not only constructed but also managed to obtain key approvals, such as completion certificates (CCs) and property identification (PID) numbers.