Residents oppose Arkavathi Layout

Residents oppose Arkavathi Layout

The Hindu

BANGALORE, JAN. 18. Residents of Amrutahalli, Hebbal village, Yelahanka village and Begur Hobli are opposing the formation of Arkavathi Layout in these areas claiming that there is no vacant land in which to develop it.

"There is no provision for developing the layout here. All the land belongs to us and has been put to use by us for several years," says a resident.

He adds that the residential quarters in the area had come up even before the Bangalore Development Authority made the preliminary notification of the layout in February 2003.

Residents also say that as they have paid electricity, water and betterment taxes for the property for the past several years, it is unfair on the part of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to "snatch" their lands from them. "The City Municipal Council has also approved our plans. That means our houses are official," they say.

One of the residents in Yelahanka village questions the BDA's wisdom in destroying residential houses to build others. "What difference does it make to them who lives there?" he asks.

He suggests that the BDA levy some "reasonable" amount on these houses in the areas falling under the purview of Arkavathi Layout. "They should levy an amount and consider us part of the layout," he says.

Officials at the BDA, however, say that it is difficult to build a layout piecemeal. However, the official says residents who had constructed "pucca" structures before the preliminary notification need not worry. "They have no reason to be concerned," he says.

B. Somasekar, President of Janata Dal (United), in a press release said the Government had gone back on its initial promise of allotting the sites soon after Sankranti and had disappointed several individuals.

He said the BDA had also tied up several lakhs of rupees from individuals who had registered for a site allotment.

He urged the BDA to pay interest on the initial amount to the applicants.

The question now remains what will be the fate of the old settlers in the new layout and whether they will be given the opportunity to coexist with the new allottees.