BDA criticised for not safeguarding its property

BDA criticised for not safeguarding its property

The Hindu

2.5 acres recovered at HBR Layout


BANGALORE: The Joint Legislature Committee formed to look into encroachment of government lands has criticised the Bangalore Development Authority for its failure to take legal steps to safeguard its property at HBR Layout in Krishnarajapuram and suggested that it appoint competent advocates to fight legal disputes.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, Committee chairman A.T. Ramaswamy said the BDA advocate had told the civil court that the Authority had no objection to a private party constructing a compound wall around three acres and 12 guntas of land belonging to it at HBR Layout.

The Authority had not made efforts to stop illegal construction on its land in Bangalore.

Land recovered

Recently, he said, the Government recovered 2.5 acres that had been encroached upon at HBR Layout and formed 54 housing sites.

The Committee members on Thursday visited HBR Layout, Kadugodi, Nallurahalli, Pattandur Agrahara and Channasandra under the Krishnarajapuram City Municipal Council limits and inspected government land that had been encroached upon.

Mr. Ramaswamy said D.K. Adikeshavalu, MP, had encroached upon one acre and three guntas of the Nallurahalli tank in Krishnarajapuram and constructed a building for Vaidehi Medical College.

The MP had produced fake documents and obtained permission to construct the building. Officials of the Revenue Department have been instructed to recover the tank bed, he said.

Government land in Bangalore city and Bangalore Urban district totals 1,18,668 acres. Of this, the real estate mafia has encroached upon more than 25,000 acres. As much as 7,228 acres has been recovered.

The Committee has suggested to the Government to auction only excess land. The Government has to keep the recovered land for construction of buildings for its future requirements, Mr. Ramaswamy said.

The Committee also pulled up the UB Group for utilising the Rose Garden located near the UB City building to dump building material. The garden had been handed over to the UB Group for upkeep and maintenance. The panel instructed the officials concerned to take action against the group.

Houses on tank bed

Many people have encroached upon the Pattandur Agrahara tank (12 acres) and constructed houses. The panel suggested that the Government recover land encroached upon by rich people for commercial purposes.

The interim report of the panel submitted to the legislature has recommended legal action under Sections 197, 198 and 464 of the Indian Penal Code against government or public servants for offences such as creating false documents or destruction of official records.