Devanahalli, a haven for filthy lucre

UPALOKAYUKTA CAUTIONS AGAINST BUYING FARM LAND
Devanahalli, a haven for filthy lucre
Deccan Herald

Even before the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli can make an appearance, land grabbing has become a big business in villages en route to the site of the airport.

Even before the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli can make an appearance, land grabbing has become a big business in villages en route to the site of the airport.

A recent raid by the Upalokayukta has brought to light cases of malpractices and bogus transactions of agricultural land on the stretch between Dobbespet and Devanahalli. So much so, that Upalokayukta Justice Patri Basavangoud has even cautioned people not to invest on agricultural land running next to the Dobbespet-Doddaballapur-Devanahalli link road.

Seven members of the gram panchayat at Manne Village in Nelamangala Taluk filed a corruption case with the Upalokayukta against the gram panchayat president and former secretary in October-end. Following the tip-off, an investigation was carried out by the anti-corruption squad in the Nelamangala Sub-Registrar Office in mid-November.

The records seized showed that seven acres and five guntas of agricultural land were sold for non-agricultural purposes in Venkatapura village, close to Doddaballapur. However, as per the records available with the Assistant Commissioner, Doddaballapur sub-division, only two acres and three guntas were converted into non-agricultural land, under Survey Number 12/1.

As per Section 79 A of the Land Reforms Act, agricultural land cannot be sold to non-agriculturists.