The Hindu : Karnataka News : Row over trust land set to take new turn

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Saturday, Aug 16, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Row over trust land set to take new turn

Vishwa Kundapura

Dalit organisations threaten to intensify stir

A politician has been accused of encroaching upon trust’s land
‘Government should take possession of the land’

KOLAR GOLD FIELDS: The controversy surrounding the alleged encroachment upon land owned by the Betamangala Aunty Bungalow Trust, worth crores of rupees, and illegal construction on it by a politician at Betamangala near here is set to take a new turn with Dalit organisations threatening to intensify their agitation.

The land owned by the trust has been in the thick of controversy following the death of some of the trustees.

The alleged encroachment upon the land measuring 1 acre 9 guntas on survey No. 193/2 and 196 and demolition of several structures, including orphanages, schools, hostels and tombs, to build a commercial complex by Kangadlahalli K. Munirathnam Naidu, has angered the people living in the area.

Several organisations, including Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkar vada), have been agitating since the alleged encroachment of the land. The samiti has been demanding that the Government take possession of the land and build a bus stand and a hostel there.

“Though the property is owned by the trust, we have taken up the issue in the public interest,” A.P.L. Ranganath, Kolar district convenor of DSS, told The Hindu.

The Dalit outfit, which staged a dharna at Betamangala and Bangarpet last year, succeeded in getting an assurance by the then Deputy Commissioner Anjum Parvez that action would be initiated against the accused. “However, in spite of this assurance and a stay order issued by the Assistant Commissioner’s court, illegal activities continue on the land,” Mr. Ranganath said.

The Deputy Commissioner had issued a stay order in this regard, he said.

Though Mr. Naidu claimed that he had purchased the land from Thomas Rajan, the latter had no locus standi in this case, Mr. Ranganath said.

The Kolar Gold Fields Development Authority and Betamanagala Gram Panchayat have stated that nobody has obtained permission to construct buildings on the land.

Though the High Court has granted a stay in favour of Mr. Naidu against the order of a court in KGF over the issue, the DSS has approached the Lokayukta. The Lokayukta has reportedly assured that it will act on the petition of the DSS only if the Deputy Commissioner, Tahasildar and other authorities fail to take action.

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