Land worth Rs 450 crore encroached

Land worth Rs 450 crore encroached
Bangalore, DH News Service:
Around 50 acres of encroached land were identified on Wednesday by the joint legislative committee on land encroachment across seven locations in Bangalore South Taluk.

Around 50 acres of encroached land were identified on Wednesday by the joint legislative committee on land encroachment across seven locations in Bangalore South Taluk.

The committee was headed by A T Ramaswamy. Lake beds, drains and reserved forest land have been encroached in association with bureaucrats and politicians cutting across party lines.

Excess
Legislators Roshan Baig and Vatal Nagaraj and Special Deputy Commissioner Shantappa were part of the inspecting group. Speaking to reporters during the visit, Mr Ramaswamy reiterated that the “unholy nexus” among land grabbers, politicians and bureaucrats accounted for a major chunk of these encroachments.

The worth of the encroached land identified during the day could run in the excess of Rs 450 crore. Corporators, government officials and local politicians have been allegedly involved in preparing fake documents to facilitate the encroachment.

Officials from Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and other government agencies came under the committee members’ line of fire for alleged dereliction of duty.

Residents’ concerns
Residents in many areas expressed their concern over possibilities of demolition or acquisition of their properties following the committee recommendations.

Pramila, a resident of Chikkakallasandra pointed out that her family had put in its entire savings on the property.
Others were heard reasoning that they had no information that their land was encroached. “We know that the encroachers, and government officials who helped in preparing the fake documents are to be blamed as well,” Mr Ramaswamy told the residents.

Mr Roshan Baig and Mr Vatal Nagaraj also assured them that victims of the land encroachment racket would not be targeted.

COMMITTEE FINDINGS
Area: Chikkakallasandra
Land encroached: Nine acres and 26 guntas
Former Padmanabhanagar ward no 55 corporator L Srinivas has allegedly encroached 37 guntas in survey no 76, in Banashankari II Stage. 60 others are also alleged to have encroached land.
La Royale Homes Classic, an apartment complex coming up on the survey number, has also been identified as encroachment.

Area: Chikkakallasandra
Land encroached (partially): Six acres and 23 guntas
Sargod Property Developers has allegedly encroached 10 acres (two five-acre plots) on survey no. 87, a reserved forest land. BDA had acquired 52 acres and 11 guntas in the survey number. The acquisition was squashed by the court in 2005, but BDA is yet to go in for an appeal.

Area: Kothanur
Land encroached: 17 acres and 28 guntas
On survey no 75 (total extent of 20 acres and 18 guntas), 489 houses have come up on encroached land. Former corporator Ramaswamy Raju has come under the scanner over his properties in the survey number.

Area: Hulimavu
Land encroached: Five acres
Islamiah Institute of Technology has allegedly encroached five acres of the total extent of 12 acres and 10 guntas of survey no 63, on Bannerghatta Road. The committee has sought documents validating the possession, from the institute’s proprietors.

Area: Kammanahalli
Land encroached: One acre and five guntas
Parts of survey no 110 (total extent of 15 acres and 32 guntas), that falls on the Kammanahalli lake bed, have been encroached for the formation of Tejaswini Nagar, a residential layout. There are also complaints that activities in a quarry in the area have led to cracks in houses.

Area: Arakere
Land encroached: Four acres and 24 guntas
Part of the encroached property - located near Pai Layout, off Bannerghatta Road - is at present rented out to Foodworld.
The encroached property, the documents of which are still with one Surendra Reddy, also comprises three acres and two guntas of land on which houses have come up.