A huge stake for BDA in land ‘recoups’

A huge stake for BDA in land ‘recoups’
Deccan Herald

A whopping 2,200 acres of BDA land across Bangalore is encroached upon. And recovering these properties has become the latest asset-building exercise for the Bangalore Development Authority.

According to BDA Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda, the Authority is planning to intensify its demolition drive in the coming months. Thanks to the prevailing high real estate prices in Bangalore, ‘retrieved’ properties have the potential of raking crores into the BDA’s coffers.

No fewer than 60 major demolitions were undertaken by the BDA in 2005-06, in the process recovering property worth Rs 288.45 crore. Since April this year, the BDA has already ‘done’ 15 demolitions.


Encroachments are largely in the form of asbestos sheds, RCC buildings and compound walls. BDA’s north division has the highest number of encroachments, especially in areas like HRBR and OMBR Layouts and East of NGEF.

H S Revanna, Superintendent of Police (BDA) reveals that zonal engineers have instructed that such areas be patrolled more vigorously and encroachments identified. The recovered property is returned to the rightful owner in case the allotment has already been made, or it is auctioned if it is an unallotted site.

Mostly, the tip-offs come in the form of complaints regarding encroachment, which are usually 10 to 15 a day. The complaint is then forwarded to the respective executive engineer, who verifies the spot and survey numbers. The Deputy Commissioner’s confirms if the encroached area belongs to the BDA.

Once the site is ascertained as a BDA-acquired property, further enquiries are made to check for any litigation-related issues. This done, the Superintending Engineer concerned issues the demolition order. The BDA task force, assisted by the local police, undertake the demolition.

About 20 to 100 police personnel are deployed for this purpose, depending on the extent and ‘sensitivity’ of the demolition, says Mr Revanna.

“There has been no cases of violence till now,” he adds.



FAULT LINES!

Encroachment-prone layouts have been listed out as follows:

North: HRBR Layout, HBR Layout, OMBR Layout, East of NGEF

West: Nagarbhavi, Jnanabharathi Layout

South: JP Nagar, Sarakki, Banashankari III Stage

East: HSR Layout, Koramangala