From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 8: Bengaluru’s prominent land developers are the major encroachers of tanks and tank beds in Benngaluru Urban and Rural Districts, says a report of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

The legislature panel headed by senior Congress MLA and former minister K B Koliwad has unearthed massive encroachment of tanks and tank-beds in Bengaluru urban and rural district and says the total extent of encroached land is 10,472 acres valued in the market at Rs 1.50 lac crore.

Developers, who figure in the list of land grabbers, are: Adarsha Developers, Prestige Group, D S Max, Shobha Developers, Brigade Group, Oberoi Group, R N S Motors, Bagmane Tech Park, Nisargadhama Estates, Nandini Apartments, Grasshopper Resorts, VandanaSagar Apartments, Advaita Group, Wall Mark Group, Green Wood Group, Pushpam Developers, R K Developers, B R Valley park, Sri Ram Apartments, N D Developers, Aishwaraya Developers, Oasis Apartments, Phantsay Apartment, Lakeview Apartment andMahalakshmi apartments.

As many as 11,595 persons and government agencies have grabbed tank areas and developed residential and commercial buildings, schools, community halls etc, the report said.

The eleven member committee of the State Legislative Assembly, which conducted surveys in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, has found shocking revelations of grabbing water bodies and open spaces.

The committee headed by Congress MLA K B Koliwad in its 17 page-progress report pin-pointed involvement of several government departments and agencies such as Bangalore Development Authority, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Transport, Education, Forests as also Urban Development in encroached of tanks.

The BDA alone encroached 481 acres tanks and developed layout and sites, the report said.

The BDA has even distributed sites to the Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, which have been since sold sites to other parties now.

Koliwad said show-cause notices would be served to all developers and persons in two districts seeking why they should not be evicted from properties.

The committee would examine explanations to show-cause notices case by case.

The legislature panel, which was formed 14 months ago, said names of all land grabbers, extent of land grabbed, buildings details would be published in gazette notification.

The panel hired services of 200 surveyors and surveyed all tanks in two districts.

Tahsildars would issue notices for land grabbers while the Assistant Commissioners would collect explanations provided by developers and forward it to the panel, Koliwad said.

The value of encroachment would a massive Rs 1.50 lac crore, if the value of properties were valued at Rs 3,000 per sq ft and Rs 1 lac crore if properties were valued at Rs 2,000 per sq ft, he added.