The 492 members of the Karnataka State Khadi Gramodyoga Workers’ House Building Co-operative Society who have been waiting for 21 years to take possession of their sites have, once again, hit a dead end.
Notified in 2003Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) notifed the 19-acre society layout land in Jakkur village for Arkavathi Layout in 2003.
However, in the recently issued re-modified scheme for Arkavathi Layout, the BDA left out the land, which has reverted to farmers who are the original owners of the land. In doing so, it has washed its hands of the matter of allotting alternative sites to all members of the society.
Though, the 492 site allottees have registered sale deeds and khatas, the documents are useless because the original land records are still in the name of the farmers.
N. Lingaraju, president of the society, had acquired the general power of attorney (GPA) for the 19 acres and got the sites registered to allottees. None of the farmers are party to the sale agreement. It has now emerged that the land was also not converted for residential purposes. The land records still reflect the names of the farmers.
Farmers, who have taken back possession of the land, have dug up the access road to the layout area.
ProtestOn Sunday, site allottees protested in the area and tension prevailed as the farmers clashed with the site allottees. The police intervened and separated the two groups.
M.N. Biradar, one of the allottees, alleged that real estate developers had lured the farmers with a better deal and usurped the land colluding with BDA officials.
He said the BDA leaving out the land from the re-modified scheme had effectively pushed them to fight a protracted civil dispute with farmers over the authenticity of the GPA.
‘Irregularities in society’However, Lokesh, a farmer, whose father owned 2 acres and had given the GPA to the society, alleged that there were widespread irregularities in the society and they were prepared to fight it out in court.
