In a joint drive, the district administration, Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force and the police recovered 122.34 acres of encroached government land worth Rs. 348 crore, in five taluks on Saturday.
The biggest was in Bengaluru South taluk where encroachments on land worth Rs. 239 crore were cleared, including over 56 acres in Cholanayakanahalli belonging to Sri Ranganathaswami temple. “The temple has 880 acres spread over five villages. We recovered the 56 acres that are free from litigation and handed them back to the Muzrai Department. Layouts have been formed on temple land and agricultural activities are also being undertaken,” said Tahsildar S.M. Shivakumar.
The team also recovered 3.16 acres in Hemmigerepura, near Kengeri, that was encroached by Omkara Ashrama and leased to a brick factory for the past 10 years. The value of the land is estimated at around Rs. 20 crore. Officials also seized a huge load of cement bricks, machinery and a truck.
The management of Omkara Ashrama had even applied to the Revenue Department for grants. The request was turned down and the ashram was issued a notice to vacate the land.
In Anekal, 25 acres worth Rs. 75 crore in Sarjapur were recovered. Land worth Rs. 3 crore was recovered in Bengaluru East, land worth Rs. 6 crore was recovered in Bengaluru North and land worth Rs. 25 crore was recovered in Bengaluru north (Additional) taluk.