Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE UNNOTICED LANDSCAM Denotification of 5 acres in Halage Vaderahalli ANOTHER MULTI CRORE SCAM OF BDA

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

THE UNNOTICED LANDSCAM 

Denotification of 5 acres in Halage Vaderahalli 

ANOTHER MULTI CRORE SCAM OF BDA 

 Amidst all the denotification scams and the resultant hulla gulla, another major denotification scam in Halage Vaderahalli in Raja Rajeswarinagar has gone unnoticed. The BDA which has acquired 6.5 acres of lands in Sy no. 251 of Halage Vaderahalli and formed the layout had stealthily denotified 5 acres of land worth more than 60 crores. In fact, a year back, the BDA had demolished unauthorized constructions and put up road boards and was about to allot sites, and now, the BDA has issued a bald denotification order. It is said that Home Minister R.Ashok has played the decisive role and needless to say that he is one of the beneficiaries. 

 The state has witnessed several scams regarding denotification of prime lands acquired by the BDA. The chief Minister B.S.Yedyurappa is fighting with his back on the wall to explain the denotifications effected by him in favour of his kith and kin. 

 A SECRET SCAM 

 Amidst the charges and counter charges, the denotification scam in Halage Vaderahalli (RR Nagar) has gone unnoticed. The denotification of 5 acres of land worth more than 60 crores, has been done discretely and has escaped the hawk’s eye of the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy, particularly so when Home Minister R.Ashok is involved. 

 THE BEGINNING 

 The story goes back to the formation of BSK V Stage Layout. Just like hundreds of acres of other land, an extent of 6.5 acres of lands in Sy no. 251 in Halage Vaderahalli was also acquired. The land adjoining this land was fully built even before the acquisition process. The BDA in the year 2000 itself had taken up this land for reconvey scheme, and till today, the matter has not moved an inch. 

 FORMATION OF LAYOUT 

 But 6.5 acres of clear land was acquired and the BDA had taken up layout work in this land by forming roads etc. The owner of the land tried best to get the acquisition dropped, but in vain. The BDA after passing the award took over the physical possession of the lands for formation of the layout. 

 The BDA after taking possession of the land formed the roads and cross roads and the only work left was the identification of sites and numbering them. They have put up the Road-Cross Boards too. Needless to say that BDA has spent huge amount towards civil works. The land owner was at his wits end and was making all out efforts to get the lands denotified despite the earlier rejection. 

 THE DEAL CLINCHED 

 Very soon, Ramachandra, a BJP leader (now a Corporator) came to the rescue of the land owner. It is no secret that Ramachandra along with R. Ashoka, affected this denotification. After the deal was clinched things began to happen. The BDA which had earlier demolished temporary sheds build on the acquired land earlier, bent backwards and in January last year, issued a bald denotification order! The order does not give any reasons for denotifying the acquired lands, for the simple reason that there are no reasons at all for denotifying the lands. In one go, the BDA lost lands worth not less than 60 crores in the market. 

 AVOIDING THE GLARE 

 Of course, the land owner was not prepared to let go the denotification which was done stealthily. However, he also does not want to make it public as it will create another controversy. That is why he had already sold the lands to a developer at the rate of Rs.3000 per sq ft. The purchasers too are very discreet in taking possession of the lands. As the BDA Boards are still standing on the lands, the developer is not prepared to risk removing them in day light lest there will be a public outcry. The developer is doing the removal of the Boards in the night to avoid public glare. Interestingly he is not removing or repainting the boards in one go. 

He is removing/repainting the boards one by one taking enough care to ensure that not more than two boards are replaced in a night. 

 The entire episode makes one to conclude that there is something more than that meets the eyes. Firstly, there are no valid reasons to denotify this highly valuable land which was acquired years back by the BDA. Secondly the land owner attempts to get the lands denotified was rejected by the BDA on earlier occasions. Thirdly, the BDA was about to allot the sites to the applicants. Fourthly the BDA has sinked millions of rupees to form the layout in this land. Even at the rates charged by BDA for site allotment is taken into consideration, the BDA would have become richer by at least 6 crores. Assuming that it had spent about a crore towards land acquisition and formation of sites, the BDA would have earned a net profit of five crores which would come in handy for other projects. 

 But, who cares for public welfare. The denotification has benefited the land owner to the maximum. The total value of the land is more than 60 crores. Besides, the developer who had purchased the lands got a ready layout as the land was already been converted into a layout by the BDA. 

 ANYBODY LISTENING? 

 But what about the BDA? Also what about the 90 odd prospective allottees? It is high time that this denotification scam gets the notice of the Lokayukta and the opposition.