Bangalore, Sep 29 (PTI): Under attack from the opposition which has demanded his resignation for ordering denotification of 1.26 acres allegedly to favour his sons, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said it was the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) which took the decision.  
 
"BDA has dropped acquisition of the land in question as it was found not feasible to create a layout", he said in a clarification here.

Yeddyurappa conceded that BDA had issued preliminary and final notification for acquiring a little more than one and a half acres in Rachenahalli village, which his sons B Y Raghavendra and B Y Vijendra had purchased and later applied for denotification.

Another less than half an acre was sold by former minister S N Krishaniah Setty to Davalagiri Developers owned by Yeddyurappa's sons and son-in-law Sohan Kumar.

BDA has issued preliminary notification for 396 acres and final notification for 298 acres in Rachenahalli to set up Arkavathi layout.So around 100 acres has been dropped from the preliminary notification stage itself, he said.

Of 298 acres, 116 acres was denotified by previous governments. This includes 60 acres denotified in the same village on Apr 5 2007.

The original owners had submitted representation to BDA for dropping the land from acquisition on march 17 2003.

The Special Deputy Commissioner had issued orders to convert about 1 acre for housing purposes in the village on March 3 by levying conversion fees.

The land owners had urged the BDA to release their land from land acquisition on March 18 2003, he said.

Former Chief Minister and state JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy and Opposition Congress leader in the assembly Siddaramaih had yesterday accused Yeddyurappa of indulging in favouritism and abouse of power while ordering denotification of lands

"It is legally permissible to drop any land from land acquisition under Section 48(1) before the Government takes possession of the land", Yeddyurappa said.

He said the final award in about 1.2 acres purchased by his sons has not been issued and possession of the land has not been taken. The final award for less than half an acre sold by Shetty has been passed, but possession of the land has not been taken, he said.