The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Departments, farmers lay claim to land

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Friday, Sep 29, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Departments, farmers lay claim to land

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The Turahalli land scam has taken a new turn with several departments of the Government, and farmers of the area, claiming ownership of the 343 acres at Uttarahalli Manavarthekaval on the outskirts of Bangalore.

C.N. Annaiah, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bangalore Urban division, told The Hindu on Thursday that of the 343 acres, only 50 acres were barren, while the remaining was wooded area.

He asserted that the Forest Department had all the requisite documents to establish ownership of the land. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), he said, had formed layouts on the barren 50 acres. The Forest Department had filed a case under the relevant sections of the Forest Act against the BDA on January 26, 2004. "However, the BDA went ahead with the formation of layouts and has even erected electricity poles. The department has filed another case this year against the BDA for doing so," he said.

BDA Commissioner M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda said if the land indeed came under the Forest Department, the BDA would not form a layout there. He said he was not aware of any case that had been filed against the BDA by the Forest Department.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy told the Legislative Assembly during the special session in Belgaum that the plot of land located at Turahalli was not reserve forest area, as was being claimed.

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