Why should land be denotified without taking the allottees into confidence?
13 May, 2013Information revealed using the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and / or the Urban Development Department denotified a stretch of 10 acres of land seven years ago and the whole process has been kept under a veil of secrecy. This land was earlier notified and had been allotted to 24 applicants from whom the BDA continued to collect property taxes even though the land was denotified and handed over to a private builder.
As per information provided to Indian Navy Commander N. Sharavana who filed the RTI application, the land was denotified in favour of Sri Krishna Constructions, owned by one Purohit Jugraj. In 2003, Sharavana was allotted a site measuring 50 by 80 feet in the layout on Survey No. 20, Nagadevanahalli, Kengeri Hobli. Later, vide an order (UDD/ 815/ MNX/ 2005) dated 28/07/2007, the BDA denotified the layout in 2007. He has complained to the Bangalore Metropolitan Task force (BMTF) that the gated community project called White Waters, which is coming up on the land, has been given permission inappropriately.
The BMTF has issued a notice to the BDA which in turn has issued a notice to the Sri Krishna Constructions directing it to stop its building activities on the site. The BDA Commissioner T. Sham Bhat has reportedly stated that in 2006, the land in question was denotified by the State government and the BDA has no part to play.
With the rise in the real estate prices, the nexus between builders-politicians-bureaucrats has been in news for the wrong reasons. The mute question is whether the interest of the original allottees would be safeguarded? Issue of their physical safety apart from giving them possession of their due land is likely to figure again.