Arkavathy landlosers, site allottees pin hopes on BDA board meet

It is a never-ending wait for landlosers and site allottees in Bengaluru Development Authority’s (BDA) Arkavathy Layout.

A decade ago after completing his Masters in Agriculture, Kiran J N thought he can experiment with organic farming in the land owned by their family in Jakkur, but his plan has come unstuck. Similarly, the patience of Srinivas Murthy, a 70-year-old retired government employee, awaiting a 30x40 sqft site in Jakkur, is wearing thin. There are over 4,800 allottees and 700 plus landlosers who are anxiously waiting for a decision on the formation of the layout.

They are pinning their hopes on the BDA board meeting scheduled on Thursday (February 16) that is expected to end the uncertainty. Ahead of the meeting, landlosers and farmers, on Monday, submitted a memorandum to the government and BDA officials, demanding quick action, failing which they would go on an indefinite hunger strike.

“I have to take care of my grandparents, aged more than 80 years. They own a piece of land in Jakkur. I lost my father in a road accident in 2003. Due to redo case, my land has become an island of sorts. The High Court has ordered to take a decision on my case at the board meeting. But so far, there has been no decision. Nearly 8.46 lakh sqft of developed land should be given to farmers (700 sites of 30x40 feet dimension), but BDA officials claim there is no land,” Kiran said.

M Nagaraj, chairman of Arkavathy Layout (BDA) Allottees’ Association, said a memorandum was submitted to BDA commissioner, engineering section, Urban Development Minister R Roshan Baig, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, additional chief secretary Mahendra Jain and the board members, but to no avail.

Allottees getting old

Allottees point out that most of them were old and getting loan to construct houses now will be difficult.

“BDA officials have been dilly-dallying about forming the layout, but busy creating another one. BDA commissioner and other officials are not helping. Even the help desk has not been of any assistance,” said K R Muralidhar, an allottee.

Gunde Gowda, a board member, has assured landlosers and allottees that the matter will be resolved at the board meeting.