How many families were affected by the Kogilu demolition? Surveys differ

While families claiming to have lived in Kogilu Layout for years without homes, nine days after the demolition, they now find themselves caught between conflicting surveys conducted by multiple agencies and organisations.

An independent survey conducted by an NGO, which has worked with residents in the area for several years, identified nearly 170 families residing in Fakeer Colony and Waseem Layout before the demolitions on December 20. The survey recorded 167 demolished houses- 47 in Fakeer Colony, 38 in Fakeer Colony (New), and 82 in Waseem Layout, affecting 192 heads of families.

On the other hand, officials of the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited, who visited the site on December 28, conducted their survey and placed the number of affected families at close to 200.

However, The Hindu has learnt that yet another separate list submitted to the government agencies by “slum leaders” claiming to represent the settlements projected the number of eligible families at over 350. Sources said officials raised concerns over discrepancies in figures, but this list has not been taken on record.

Payments to leaders

The residents also acknowledged that several families had paid around ₹2 lakh over the years to local intermediaries to secure plots and basic services and said they were later warned not to speak about these payments after the demolition.

“We paid ₹2.08 lakh to one person here. He arranged the electricity meter box and told us everything was legal. Since 2012, we have been staying here. After the demolition, he threatened us and said we should not reveal anything because we are not literate. Now we have lost everything, and we don’t even know if our names are included in any survey,” a resident said. Many families also said documents required to establish eligibility were destroyed during the demolition.

Dy CM visit

D.K. Shivakumar at the demolition site in Kogilu Layout.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who visited the demolition site after nine days, said the government was identifying poor and deserving families affected by the clearance. “Some people have taken ₹1 lakh, even ₹2 lakh, from families and allowed them to illegally build huts on government land. We will not allow sudden slum creation in Bengaluru,” he said.

When asked who had collected money from residents, Mr. Shivakumar said, “Our investigation team will verify this,” he said. He added that the government had documents showing agreements for the construction on the government land and said action would be taken against those responsible.

Who is accountable?

The displaced families, however, questioned why such transactions spanning several years were not acted upon earlier, and how accountability would now be fixed when families who paid intermediaries have lost both homes and documents. They also said verification based largely on Aadhaar details could exclude families whose papers were destroyed during the demolition.

Responding to concerns raised by the residents that many had lost key documents, which are primarily used for verification, a senior official the housing corporation said alternative documents, including EPIC cards and ration cards, would be considered, and verification would be carried out accordingly.

Joint survey today

A senior official also acknowledged that the survey conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Committee showed figures that differed from those arrived at by the GBA and the Revenue Department and said that the officials from all three departments will jointly carry out a fresh survey on Tuesday to arrive at a final count.