Land mafia stops BDA recovery

Land mafia stops BDA recovery
BY R. JAYAPRAKASH
BENGALURU







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I Around 2,878 acres in Bengaluru is still in hands of encroachers I ‘ Many encroachers have approached courts, which ‘ has slowed down the process of eviction
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), in the last seven years, has recovered illegally encroached property worth over Rs 2,000 crore.

But this is just a quarter of the total properties to be recovered. Approximately 2,878 acres in the city is still in the hands of the land mafia and politicians, amounting to Rs 5,236 crore.

Since 2001, the BDA has managed to clear encroachers from 350 acres in the heart of the city in BTM Layout, Banashankari, HAL III Stage, Koramangala, HSR Layout, Rajajinagar, RMV II Stage, Jayanagar, JP Nagar, RT Nagar and Domlur areas.

“We have formed a special task force which is investigating the encroachment cases. Last year, we recovered over 80 acres which is valued at Rs 626 crore. However, a large part of 2,878 acres is yet to be recovered and is in bits and pieces. So we have to individually look into each of these cases. This year between April and Novem ber we have recovered 45 acres and 28 guntas amounting to Rs 374.28 crore,” BDA sources investigating such cases told Deccan Chronicle.

“In many cases there are built-up structures and the government has to take a stand on it. But we don’t spare built-up structures on large spaces that belong to BDA,” the source said.

The worst hurdle faced by the authority in recovering these properties are legal impediments. Many of these encroachers have approached courts, which has slowed down the process of evicting the unauthorised occupants.

However, the government has given a free hand to evict encroachers without discrimination and crores of rupees make their way to the BDA treasury while hundreds of properties go under the hammer.

In many cases BDA officials have reportedly connived with the land mafia and have created bogus records.

“It takes lot of our time to ascertain whether the documents produced by the claimants are original or fabricated. Also, interfer ence of political bosses hampers the land recovery. There is a big syndicate of wheeler-dealers who have expertise in misguiding the investigating officers as well the courts. It’s a Herculean task,” says the officer.

The BDA has restored CA sites, parks and has reserved open spaces as playgrounds in high-density areas after clearing them from encroachers. Another initiative, which is pending approval from the board, is rewarding informers of encroached BDA properties in the city.