Illegal structure inaugurated by minister!

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Residents of Thambuchetty Palya in K.R. Puram constituency are in a fix over the construction of an illegal structure built on land meant for a park. They are wondering who to complain as a minister himself had inaugurated the structure, which is facing litigation.

“We are shocked to see some people claiming ex-servicemen constructing a structure on the land meant for a park. We never expected Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, who is also our elected representative, to inaugurate it. I do not know whether the minister is aware of the background of the land,’’ said RV Shetty, a resident of Sai Ram Layout.

This parcel of land, presumably worth crores, has been at the heart of a tussle for nearly a decade, involving residents, the BBMP Horticulture Department and a number of greedy land sharks, some of whom come with the backing of elected representatives.

The land in question is about two acres and 38 guntas, owned by the government at Thambuchetty Palya, near Ramamurthy Nagar. In 2013, the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner passed an order approving a proposal to develop the vacant plot and turn it into a park for the benefit of citizens.

Recently, the exasperated residents launched a postcard campaign, with 300 letters penned to the Chief Minister, demanding the revenue authorities to clear encroachments. Meanwhile, the BBMP Horticulture Department officials visited the spot but had returned without taking the land into their possession. They had claimed that some private people had put up a board claiming that they own the land.

The residents want to know how the authorities turned a blind eye to a structure on the disputed land when a case is pending in the High Court.

“It is quite surprising to see a building come up on a disputed land without any hurdles. We expected the tahsildar to handover the land to the BBMP Horticulture Department for developing a park on this land but in vain. I do not know how an urban development minister inaugurates a building constructed on disputed land,” said Vijay Reddy, a resident.

A reply from Bengaluru East Tahsildar on December 2, 2021 to a RTI application, seeking information on those who gave permission for the construction of the building on the disputed land, stated that the tahsildar’s office has no information on the building and it is not an authority to give permission to construct a building on that land.

“We want to know who has authorized the exservicemen to construct the building on the land meant for developing a park. A case pertaining to this land has been pending in the High Court. How can authorities allow a building constructed on the land in dispute?” asks P Purushotham, president, Nethaji Federation.

Meanwhile, Anthony Swamy, former nominated corporator to the BBMP Council and close associate of Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, has said the building is constructed on a temporary basis. “All the structures on the land are constructed on a temporary basis. Minister Byrathi Basavaraj had reluctantly agreed to inaugurate the building,” Swamy said.