711 acres of land worth Rs 7,550 crore reclaimed
Commercial complexes in Banaswadi being demolished by BDA authorities on Saturday
In a well-co-ordinated operation, the district administration and city police cracked down on encroachments of Banaswadi Lake on the city's outskirts
In one of the biggest land reclaiming drives undertaken in the city, Bengaluru district administration on Saturday demolished hundreds of illegal buildings and reclaimed land worth Rs 7,551 crore. The reclaimed land includes 711 acres of Kadugodi Plantation forestland.
In a well-co-ordinated operation, the district administration and city police cracked down on encroachments of Banaswadi Lake, illegal structures at Munnekollolu near Marathalli Bridge and in four villages of Anekal Taluk - Shivanahalli, Anekal town, Hilalagi and Rayasandra - in the outskirts of the city. This is the second major reclaim drive in recent times after the demolition of structures built on encroached Sarakki Lake in J P Nagar last fortnight in which land worth Rs 2,000 crore was reclaimed.
"The greatest achievement today was the saving of Kadugodi Plantation, a large government land being eyed by land-sharks. The city has got back 711 acres of forestland, which is very vital for the wellbeing of future generations," said Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner V Shankar, the IAS officer who is spearheading the crusade against encroachers at the behest of the Karnataka High Court.
"Kadugodi Plantation in Bengaluru East Taluk has been declared a forestland and was handed over to the Forest Department in 1989. But the revenue records did not contain details pertaining to its pahani, mutation extract and khatha. Several persons and organisations had encroached a large portion of the land and houses had come up in around five acres located in the tech-corridor. We have reclaimed forestland worth Rs 7,100 crore and also some more land. Those residing here have been given time to make alternative arrangements," said Shankar.
In Banaswadi, the administration cleared encroachments on 2.39 acres in HRBR Layout near the Banaswadi Lake. "We had given notices to two petrol bunks, a temple, a commercial complex and a few houses before undertaking the demolition," Shankar said. In fact, 14.27 acres (containing 222 sites) of HRBR Layout came under our scanner since its development in 1988-89 and government had issued notices to those who had bought land here. "The issue is pending before the government. We will take a call after the government makes a decision," Shankar said.
In Munnekollolu, land worth Rs 300 crore was recovered from Navajeevan Nilaya Trust, which was running a private school and girls' hostel instead of a rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients it was supposed to.
In one of the biggest land reclaiming drives undertaken in the city, Bengaluru district administration on Saturday demolished hundreds of illegal buildings and reclaimed land worth Rs 7,551 crore. The reclaimed land includes 711 acres of Kadugodi Plantation forestland.
In a well-co-ordinated operation, the district administration and city police cracked down on encroachments of Banaswadi Lake, illegal structures at Munnekollolu near Marathalli Bridge and in four villages of Anekal Taluk - Shivanahalli, Anekal town, Hilalagi and Rayasandra - in the outskirts of the city. This is the second major reclaim drive in recent times after the demolition of structures built on encroached Sarakki Lake in J P Nagar last fortnight in which land worth Rs 2,000 crore was reclaimed.
"The greatest achievement today was the saving of Kadugodi Plantation, a large government land being eyed by land-sharks. The city has got back 711 acres of forestland, which is very vital for the wellbeing of future generations," said Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner V Shankar, the IAS officer who is spearheading the crusade against encroachers at the behest of the Karnataka High Court.
"Kadugodi Plantation in Bengaluru East Taluk has been declared a forestland and was handed over to the Forest Department in 1989. But the revenue records did not contain details pertaining to its pahani, mutation extract and khatha. Several persons and organisations had encroached a large portion of the land and houses had come up in around five acres located in the tech-corridor. We have reclaimed forestland worth Rs 7,100 crore and also some more land. Those residing here have been given time to make alternative arrangements," said Shankar.
In Banaswadi, the administration cleared encroachments on 2.39 acres in HRBR Layout near the Banaswadi Lake. "We had given notices to two petrol bunks, a temple, a commercial complex and a few houses before undertaking the demolition," Shankar said. In fact, 14.27 acres (containing 222 sites) of HRBR Layout came under our scanner since its development in 1988-89 and government had issued notices to those who had bought land here. "The issue is pending before the government. We will take a call after the government makes a decision," Shankar said.
In Munnekollolu, land worth Rs 300 crore was recovered from Navajeevan Nilaya Trust, which was running a private school and girls' hostel instead of a rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients it was supposed to.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/civic/land-banaswadi/articleshow/47134158.cms?prtpage=1
Several families were left homeless after many houses and commercial establishments were demolished in Banaswadi on Saturday
Banaswadi - Officials respond to the plea citing their order not to stop at anything or for anybody... go ahead with reclamation rendering the family homeless
At 8.30 am on Saturday three-month-old Siddhant was fast asleep while his family collected all it could from their house. Despite pleas from his family members, Siddhant's house was demolished in a matter of half-an-hour and the eight-member family was left without a home.
Worried and clueless of a shelter, the family, like many others, was left to fend for itself.
Siddhant's family was one of the first to lose its house in the major demolition that took place at Banaswadi. The issue has been going on since 2012 when houses and commercial establishments were given the first notice that the land they resided on was actually a lake. According to the notice served to the houses of the area, their structures encroachment. While there is no clear time on when the residential establishments will be demolished Siddhant's family was one of the unlucky once. Most of the commercial establishments were demolished on Saturday.
Sunita, who is three month old Siddhant's mother said, "They randomly came to our house early in the morning and said they will demolish the house. I pleaded them, my whole family pleaded them to at least give us some more time. I told them for the sake of the baby gives us time but they did not even give us 10 minutes. We were bluntly told we have an order and let us do our work. Do not talk too much or we can arrest." The family who originally are from Nepal have been living in the same house for the past 20 years. The family which is now left with just a bed, a few utensils are in complete shock as out of the two earning members in the family one is in Nepal trying to help relatives stuck in the earthquake.
Dharmendra, 38, who works as a taxi driver, said, "My brother and I are the only earning members. My brother is in Nepal my sister has three month old baby, our mother is 70 years old. We don't even have a place where my sister can feed her baby. There is no roof above our head where are we to go if it rains. The whole family including the baby has been sitting in the hot son on the remains of our house since morning. When I tried to rent a house nearby I was asked 65,000 as deposit. Where do I get this money from?"
Most residents in the area are living in fear and confusion as they pray and hope their house is not demolished. Mauni Mani who is 68-year-old has just one wish she wants to die in the house that she and her husband built themselves.
Mauni, lost her right ankle building this house. While the construction of the house was going on more than thirty years back a tile entered her ankle and had to be amputated. She had a stroke two years back after which she stopped talking and her right side is paralysed. She lost her husband two years back exactly a month after the received the first notice saying their house is illegal.
Jayanthi Selvaraj, 38, Mauni's daughter, said, "We were given a notice on January 3 this year saying that our house will be demolished. On January 5 we went and submitted all the documents of the house from the registration papers to our electricity bill everything and pleaded not to break the house. We were told they will look into the matter. Suddenly now they come and say they will break our houses."
Jayathi, who works as a babysitter, added, "There is no current and water since morning in our house. The first floor of my house was let out on rent, but they have vacated today. I earn only 8000 a month and the rent. I spend 3000 on my mother's medicine and rest on the education of my two daughters. Other houses on rent cost more than Rs. 12,000. So basically the government wants to kill me and my family without food. If they touch my house I will give poison to my children, my mother and myself and die. I will make their job of killing easier for them."
Ex-army man Samson, 58, was scheduled for a cataract operation on Saturday. But the whole confusion about whether or not his house will be demolished has made him postpone it.
Vimala Samson, 55, his wife said, "How can he get the operation done, when we are not sure if we will even have a house? After thirty years of constructing the house now the government feels it is encroachment. I am even ready to pay a penalty but why break my house. If the operation is not done soon my husband will be blind forever. But the fear I am in now is where to stay?"
Residents mark their houses
Some residents in the area have started marking their homes and pasting ''orders'' on the wall of their compounds. The marking in big black bold letters read 'Writ Petition Number' hoping that will stop the demolition squad.
Arun, 40, said, "We have not got a stay order yet but the lawyers have told us the number could save our homes. We all have put up the numbers. We are ready to do anything to save our homes."
Some residents like Narayani were standing outside their houses armed with documents. "I will show them the documents even before they come close to my house."
A resident, who did not wished to be named, said, "Some of us have just randomly put dummy Writ Petition numbers. No lawyer is ready to take the case as there is no stay order yet."
'No power and water given'
Residents are questioning why various government agencies gave ration cards, electricity supply, sanitation provisions, water supply if it was an illegal settlement. Arun, who has been staying in the area for more than 15 years, says, "What exactly will they do once they demolish my house?
Will the lake be revived? Why were we not warned when we went to register our property. Cutting electricity and water supply makes us feel like we are not from this country anymore. Are we terrorists? We are being treated like terrorists." The demolition has cost tenants their deposits as well as furniture. Staff of Housezilla, a real estate office, had taken the place on rent just six months ago. The owner allegedly kept them in the dark about the issue as well as the demolition threat.
Joseph, one of the staff members, said, "We were not even given five minutes to vacate the office. We are now left with just a sofa and two chairs. We are in a state of shock."
In the case of 26-year-old Johnson S, a DJ, he not only lost the commercial establishment, but also his house. Johnson's house and establishment were adjoining buildings. When the commercial building was brought down, he told the team to be careful as his house could also be damaged. However, he ended up with a huge hole in the roof.
