The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has reclaimed only 4.3 acres of encroached land in the city, while the total quantum of encroached area stands at 15.4 acres, worth Rs. 893 crore, going by just its guidance value.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, replying to a question in the Legislative Council on Thursday, said that a special meeting would be convened soon to speed up the process of reclaiming encroached land.
Litigation
Mr. Siddaramaiah said many of the properties were under various stages of litigation and the government would appoint ‘efficient lawyers’ to ensure that the judicial process is speeded up.
The Chief Minister admitted that not presenting convincing arguments in courts had often led to delays in their disposal.
B.J. Puttaswamy, MLC, who raised the question, said the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike had not bothered to initiate action even when judicial orders were in favour of the civic body.
Dispute
He said that a dispute over a two-lakh sq. ft land at Cottonpet had been adjudged in favour of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, but the reply furnished to him at the Council did not say whether or not the property had been reclaimed.
Mr. Puttaswamy argued that the total market value of all the encroached BBMP properties at Bengaluru was about Rs. 3,000 crore, and the cash-strapped BBMP could pay back some of its long-pending loans, if the land was reclaimed and auctioned.
Land encroached: 15.4 acres; land reclaimed: 4.3 acres
Total guidance value of encroached land: Rs. 893 crore
