BDA to pay for tip off

BDA to pay for tip off

The Hindu

Chief Minister asks BDA officials to preserve existing property



A TOUCHING GESTURE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy speaking to freedom fighters during the allotment of sites to freedom fighters at BDA premises in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: The next time you inform the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) about an encroached site, you could be richer by Rs. 2 lakh. To stall further encroachment and to add to the Rs. 700 crore worth of encroached property it reclaimed this year, BDA on Thursday launched a new incentive system for informers.

Here is how it works: For confidential information about an encroached 30 x 40 site, BDA will offer Rs. 50,000. The incentive for a 40 x 60 site is Rs. 1 lakh, and the maximum of Rs. 2 lakh is for proven information about an encroached 50 x 80 site. The initiative is based on the recommendations of the A.T. Ramaswamy Committee. The informer's identity will be kept confidential.

Informers should submit their name, address, phone number and details of the encroached property in a sealed cover to the Commissioner of Superintendent of Police (Special Task Force and Vigilance), BDA Head Office, T. Chowdiah Road, Kumarapark West, Bangalore - 560 020.

Formally inaugurating the scheme here, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy lauded BDA's efforts in reclaiming property worth Rs. 700 crore. BDA had raised revenues of Rs. 190 crore through sale of the reclaimed sites. But he wanted the BDA officials to focus on preserving its existing properties from future encroachment. Ironically, the BDA's initiative comes at a time when the agency itself has been found guilty of encroaching upon 35 acres of land at Turahalli minor forest range by the Revenue and Forest departments.

Sites allotted

Earlier, the Chief Minister handed over allotment letters to 20 freedom fighters who were sanctioned 30 x 40 BDA sites at Banashankari V stage "Happy Valley" Layout. Priority was given to freedom fighters who were assured site allotment at the Chief Minister's Janatha Darshan programme. All the beneficiaries were in the age group of about 80 to 95 years.

Social responsibility

BDA, he said, had not limited itself to only profit making and had taken up several social responsibility tasks. The agency had initiated water recycling plants in Lalbagh, Cubbon Park and surrounding areas, constructed a Casualty Block in the premises of Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital for Rs. 9.8 crore and a separate block at the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology at Rs. 1 crore.

In the latest venture, on behalf of BDA Mr. Kumaraswamy himself presented a cheque for Rs. 50 lakh to Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology for a surgical block there.