Kumaraswamy warns land mafia

Kumaraswamy warns land mafia

The Hindu

`We are keen on protecting government land'

# BDA asked to take action against culprits irrespective of party affiliation
# `Greater Bangalore will solve most of the problems facing the city'

Bangalore: "The Government will take stern action against land grabbers and encroachers, irrespective of the party they are affiliated to," said Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

He was speaking after renaming Shankar Park Layout as "Sri Sri Sri Chandrashekhar Bharati Layout", the road opposite Shankar Math as "Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Road", and Chikkanna Garden, 3rd Cross, as "Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Road" here on Thursday.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the officials of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) came to him this morning and told him that a few people, who claimed to be close to him, were claiming ownership of eight sites measuring 50 ft X 80 ft in a prominent locality. He said that the market value of the sites would be over Rs. 15 crore.

"I have directed them to take action against them. The Government will take action against such people irrespective of the party they are affiliated to or whoever they claim they are close to," he said. With regard to encroachments in Girinagar, he said that Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math had urged him to take action against land grabbers. "Overnight, people with vested interest had built compounds for the sites in the area. We were forced to demolish the illegal constructions. We are keen on protecting government land," he said.

Regarding Greater Bangalore, Mr. Kumaraswamy said people still have a few doubts about its formations. "The problems the city is facing are sure to be solved with the formation of Greater Bangalore," he added.

He said that he was happy and satisfied about renaming the layout, road and the garden in the name of the late swamiji of Sringeri Math.