BDA allays fears on Arkavathy Layout work

BDA allays fears on Arkavathy Layout work
The Hindu

`Court order last week pertained only to some disputed lands'

Bangalore: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is going ahead with the work on fully developing the Arkavathy Layout.

Allaying fears that the work on the layout would be affected and the allotment of plots delayed, the BDA has said that there is no cause for concern and that the status quo order of the Karnataka High Court last week pertained only to some "disputed lands" in the layout.

The BDA says that since there is no stay on the implementation of the project, work would continue. The court had on Monday ordered maintaining of status quo in respect of those lands in which discrimination was alleged during the earlier acquisition proceedings. Several landowners had moved the court challenging the order of the Commissioner, BDA.

A Division Bench of the High Court had in November 2005 granted its seal of approval to the Arkavathy Layout project. It had said that if the lands (as had been alleged) fall under the green belt or if it is totally built up or belongs to charitable trusts, educational and religious institutions, nursery lands, factories or lands (similar to lands) which have not been notified prior to the preliminary notification, applications may be filed before the BDA seeking exclusion from acquisition.

Several such applicants have been complaining that the BDA Commissioner had issued an endorsement to the effect that their land does not fall under the above mentioned category.

On its part, the BDA says that even the Supreme Court, which is hearing a special leave petition had provided for continuation of the interim protection granted by a Division Bench of the High Court.

It also maintains that the order passed on Monday was purely interim in nature and is subject to detailed arguments subsequently. Besides, this interim order applies only to small pieces of land.

Since the land in question covered under the recent writ petitions are miniscule in nature, the project will not be affected, the BDA says.