BDA bulldozers plough on

BDA bulldozers plough on
Record Of Sorts: Takes Back 44 Acres, 15 Guntas Worth Rs 250 Cr
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The Bangalore Development Authority on October 25 recovered 44 acres and 15 guntas of its land worth Rs 250 crores in a major land-recovery operation in Kothnur village of Bangalore South taluk.
This is a record of sorts in the BDA’s history in terms of the extent of area recovered and also the value of the property. Moreover, the BDA has created another record in recovering property worth around Rs 415 crore in five separate operations conducted in the last 22 days. With the operation, the value of the property recovered from April 2008 till date exceeded Rs 1,000 crores. In the past 21 months, the BDA has recovered property worth Rs 1,053 crores.
The authority had notified the acquisition of 58 acres and 11 guntas of land in survey number 87 of Kothnur Village, Utharahalli Hobli, Bangalore South taluk to form JP Nagar 8th phase extension. The preliminary notification for land acquisition was issued in 1988 and the final notification in 1994. The land was handed over to engineering section in 1994.
However, a few people and certain institutions have laid claim to the land and engaged in a long legal battle. Several cases involving the 44 acres 21 guntas of land were decided in the favour of the BDA. The authority initiated action to recover this land by removing 10 temporary sheds and a compound wall and also felled a eucalyptus grove grown in an area of about 7 acres. It is estimated that the recovered land will yield 660 sites.
Of the remaining land in the same survey number, action has been taken to renotify 10 acres of land for acquisition as per the court’s directions .
BDA employed 20 JCB machines, power saws and more than 100 staff to clear the eucalyptus grove. The operation was conducted under the leadership of the superintendent of police of the BDA task force, estate officer, BDA, engineer officer-1, deputy conservator of forests, land acquisition officer, executive engineer, south division along with the active cooperation of the local police.
SHOPS RAZED
The BBMP is conducting a raid against encroachments in West zone. At Sultanpet Main Road, 21 shops on a drain were razed. The drive will continue for 15 days.