Karnataka   

Choultry dwellers face eviction Ground truth

Forty-six families of daily wage workers living at Basappa choultry on BB Road in Chickballapur are in a state of panic after news reached them of the district administration’s plans to take over the choultry for official use. They have lived for the last two decades in the choultry, popularly known as Basappa chatra, and have nowhere to go as they own neither houses nor sites.

After Chickballapur attained district headquarters status more than six months ago, the district administration has been busy identifying land and buildings belonging to the government for office space and other official requirements. Basappa choultry is one among the structures that has been earmarked for takeover. Because of the large space in which the choultry stands and its proximity to the national highway, it has been considered an ideal plot to build a new KSRTC bus stand.

Several organisations have expressed concern over the reported takeover and the fate of the families that have taken shelter in the Basappa chatra. The Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha (KPRS) and the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) have taken up the issue and have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner K. Subodh Yadav explaining the plight of these families who may be displaced.

“The response of the Deputy Commissioner was encouraging. It has created hope for the families,” says L. Lakshmayya, president of KPRS taluk unit.

“If the Government does not make any alternative arrangements, the families will be on the footpath,” he said.

Mr. Subodh Yadav has reportedly made an assurance that the families will be provided sites under Ashraya scheme before evicting them from the choultry, according to Mr. Lakshmayya. Those families sanctioned with Ashraya sites free of cost will be given Rs. 30,000 each from Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation to build houses.

The announcement by a prominent political leader of the town M. Anjanappa that he will also donate Rs. 25,000 each to all the 46 families to construct houses has been welcomed here.

Vishwa Kundapura in Kolar

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