Probe into alternative BDA site allotment

Probe into alternative BDA site allotment
DH News Service, Bangalore:
All alternative sites allotted by Bangalore Development Authority since 2003, has come under the Government's scanner...


The State Government on Monday decided to conduct a thorough inquiry into the legality of allotment of all alternative sites by BDA since last five years. Home Minister V S Acharya, who announced this in the Legislative Council, assured that the inquiry report will be submitted to the Council Chairman within three months for perusal by members.

The Government took this decision following allegation by senior members M P Nadagouda, Basavaraj Horatti, B R Gurudev, Marithibbegowda and R V Venkatesh that 600 out of 800 alternative sites allotted by BDA in the last two years, were illegal. The members initially demanded that the Government set up a House committee to probe this.

Acharya further assured the House that all sites allotted illegally will be recovered and action will be initiated against officials involved.

“The Government is capable of conducting an impartial inquiry, recovering its property and punishing guilty officials,” he stated.

Officials involved

Earlier, raising the issue, Nadagouda alleged that there is a big network of BDA officials and agents engaged in such allotment. In just two years, more than 500 plots in prime areas were illegally allotted as alternative sites.
The value of these sites would be more than Rs 1,000 crores, he added.

In one instance, according to him, a single family living in HSR Layout has got 80 alternative sites allotted. The family was so powerful that it pipped a former minister to get an alternative site in HSR layout from BDA.
In many cases, alternative sites are given to those who do not even own any BDA site.

In some instances, corner sites are split into two sites and given as alternative sites. As per the rule book, BDA corner sites cannot be allotted, he stated.

All those who have illegally got alternative sites have sold them within one month, he alleged. M C Nanaiah (JD-S) seconded Nadagouda’s charge.