LAND GRABBING IN BANGALORE

THE PROBLEM, MODUS OPERANDI AND

SOLUTIONS

A PRESENTATION AT THE BANGALORE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

BY V. BALUEmail: vbalu41@gmail.com

27 MARCH 20081

THE PROBLEM

BANGALORE, THE “BOOM CITY”; GROWING @ 4.9% SINCE 1970s; DUE TO SKILLED MANPOWER AND

GOOD CLIMATE, INDUSTRIES AND INVESTORS THRONG TO THIS CITY;

DUE TO PRESSURE ON LAND, PRICES ARE NEXT ONLY TO MUMBAI & DELHI

1 Sq.Ft. IN JAYANAGAR Rs.22,000 = Rs.96 CRORES PER ACRE !

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EXTENT OF LAND GRABBING

NAME OF Dpt. ACRES Persons REVENUE 22,000 26,000 FOREST 1,100 312 B’Ghatta Natl Park 767 813 LAKES & TANKS 313 553 BDA 2,878 4,595 OTHERS 3,000 2,500 TOTAL 30,000 35,000

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SOME EXAMPLES

180 acres BY LIQUOR HOUSE, B’lore South 3A 26G OF NIMHANS LAND BY

BUILDER 343 acres OF TURAHALLI MINOR

FOREST CHOUBEENA SUBBA RAO CHARITY

LAND & BUILDINGS, CHARMARAJPET 11A 20G TANK BED LAND, PATTANDUR JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES CO-OP SOCIETY

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LAND OF 1000 TANKS ?

BANGALORE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1537; IN 1791 WHEN IT WAS CAPTURED BY EAST

INDIA COMPANY, IT WAS DESCRIBED AS LAND OF 1000 LAKES;

MAJOR SANKEY DEVISED A CASCADING SYSTEM OF TANKS AND LAKES;

NOW 937 TANKS WITH 26,468 A HAS ENCR-OACHMENT OF 2,488A by 1848 PERSONS;

IT IS NOW A LAND OF “1000 SEWAGE TANKS” BECAUSE OF SEWAGE LET-IN;

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Area statistics of the tank obtained from Cadastral map and from Satellite image

46.05 Ha44.08 Ha

KaggadasapuraDodda Nekkundi

Vibhutipura

18.38 Ha

15.62 Ha

Area statistics of Vibhutipura tank obtained from Cadastral Map and from Satellite Image

4.40 Ha

5.63 Ha

Area statistics of Yadiyur Lake obtained from Cadastral Map and from Satellite Image

MODUS OPERANDI

COLLUSION AMONG OFFICIALS, ELECTED REPs, BUILDERS, REALTORS;

CREATION OF BOGUS RECORDS BY VAs, BDA, BMP, VP & REGISTN. OFFICIALS;

FICTITIOUS SALE DEEDS, KHATHAs, “COMPROMISE “ ORDERS BY COURTS;

ABSENCE OF PROPERTY REGISTERS & ESTATE OFFICERS IN DEPTS, STATU-TORY BODIES,DESTROYING RECORDS ;

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PREVENTION & PRECAUTION

HAVE ESTATE OFFICERS & PROTECT PROPERTY AS DEFENSE DEPT. DOES;

FENCE PROPERTIES & PUBLICISE INFN; PROSECUTION OF ERRING OFFICIALS &

ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS; HoDs, CEOs OF BDA, BMP, etc. SHOULD

ATTEND TO ROUTINE HOUSEKEEPING DUTIES, INSPECTIONS, DISC. ACTIONS;

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SOLUTIONS

LAND GRABBING (PREVENTION) ACT, SPECIAL COURT & PROSCTG BODY;

TORRENS SYSTEM OF TITLE & SURVEY;

CHANGING SYSTEM OF SELECTING GOVT ADVOCATES & WORK REVIEW;

EFFECTIVE WORKING OF LEGAL CELLS, REVIEW BY DPAR, LAW DEPT;

A MASTER PLAN FOR PUBLIC LANDS; PUBLIC WATCH-DOGS, USE OF RtI Act;

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DECISION MAKING IN INDIA

GOVT IS IMMOBILE AND HAS TO BE “MOVED”;

A former PM: “Not taking decision is also a decision”;

Naipaul’s quote: “Go through the motions of doing something while doing nothing and this is equivalent to having actually done something even though the situation has not altered one bit.”

Well-begun is Half Done – Half begun is well done

Two Japanese = 1 + 1 Two Indians = 1 - 1

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THANK YOU

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