BDA gears up to allot sites

BDA gears up to allot sites
The Times of India

Bangalore: Earth movers working overtime, roaring excavators and bulldozers competing with each other to dig up mounds and flatten the land, BDA personnel identifying and marking plots, engineers marking out roads, drains and civic amenities....

Arkavathy Layout is abuzz with activities as the BDA is gearing up to allot nearly 15,000 residential sites in the next two months. The 748 acres of land mired in litigation notwithstanding, the BDA is carrying out site formation work in the remaining nearly 2,000 acres of land in the layout.

The first set of 2,000 sites were allotted in the first week of January. According to BDA officials, they are working towards distributing 15,000 sites within the next two months and civil works are being carried out in full swing.

The layout will comprise two 100 feet roads connecting the four corridors, two lakes which will be fed by rainwater, Cauvery water supply for drinking and secondary treated water for non-domestic purposes and minisewage treatment plants. It will have a road network of 386 km ranging from 30 feet roads to 100 feet roads. The authorities will put in place a dual water supply network system — separate drinking and non-potable water lines. While non-potable water will be drawn from Hebbal secondary treatment plant for purposes other than cooking and drinking, Cauvery water will be supplied for drinking.

The preliminary notification for the layout was first issued in February 2003 and the project moved at a swift pace till July 2004 when it hit a road block. Subsequently work was stalled in January last year following a court order.
But another high court Bench gave a go-ahead to the project. Toeing the high court order, the BDA has decided not to acquire properties in Arkavathy Layout, which existed before the issuance of preliminary notification for land acquisition unless they come in the way of civic works. The court has asked BDA to review the petitioners’ objections and take a suitable decision. As per high court orders, the BDA has heard the owners of the 748 acres of land and will act as per the directions.

However, properties that came up after the issuance of notification will be demolished. There are 1,424 aggrieved land owners, the majority of whom are revenue site owners, seeking exclusion of land from the acquisition process.

Their contention is that their land is either situated in the green belt, is totally built up, or comprises properties constructed by charitable, educational or religious institutions, nursery lands or industries.