BANGALORE: A meeting of the board of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on May 8 will give a clear picture of the land available for Arkavathy Layout.

Of the 2,750 acres notified for the layout, nearly 748 acres, mostly revenue sites, are in dispute. It is regarding these lands that the High Court had ordered the BDA to hear the views of landowners. There are 1,424 aggrieved landowners, a majority of whom are revenue site owners, seeking exclusion of their land from the acquisition process. They said that their land was either situated in the green belt, was totally built up, or comprised properties constructed by charitable, educational or religious institutions, nursery lands or industries.

From February, the BDA had been holding talks with these people. Now that the discussion and inspections had been completed, a decision would be taken on May 8, said a BDA official. A major chunk of the sites, almost 15,000 of them, would be allotted by May 31, said BDA officials. Over 1,810 sites, in land not under dispute, had already been distributed.

Shortfall

Although, a final analysis of the availability of land had not yet been developed, a BDA official said there could be shortfall in land. In its original plan, the BDA had envisioned 25,900 sites, including 5,900 revenue sites and corner sites.

Any shortfall in land requirement would be adjusted by reducing the size of corner sites, which were usually auctioned, said the official.

"We will not cut down on allotment sites. There will be no change in those numbers," said the official.

Civil works in the first phase of the layout had been completed at a cost of Rs. 26 crore.

The BDA lost materials estimated at Rs. 10 crore in the looting that followed immediately after the High Court questioned the BDA's acquisition policy and before the agency got a stay order.

The layout will have road network of 386 km, including two 100 feet roads connecting four corridors.

A dual water supply network has been put in place. While non-potable water will be drawn from Hebbal secondary treatment plant, Cauvery water will be supplied for drinking.

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