1,443 Properties Litigations of BDA are Pending in Karnataka Court

Bengaluru: Court advised BDA to make sincere and aggressive efforts to take further steps in safeguarding its properties and file effective compliance reports by February 10, 2023.

The number of cases pertaining to properties owned by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) indicates that BDA is not managing its properties properly. 

Karnataka Lokayukta said by expressing displeasure over the delay in removing illegal occupants from BDA properties that it is observed that valuable properties belonging to the BDA cannot be illegally permitted to be occupied by third parties and it is the duty of the BDA to safeguard its properties. So, the BDA is expected to make sincere and aggressive efforts to take further steps in safeguarding its properties and file effective compliance reports as per the order.

The Lokayukta ordered BDA to re-list the matter on February 10, 2023. BDA Engineer Member HR Shantharajanna reported to the Lokayukta that after verifying the pendency of litigations and court orders, action is being initiated in a phased manner for the removal of unauthorized occupation.

The Lokayukta said the BDA has taken action to clear the encroachments on four of its properties. According to the report of BDA, litigations pertaining to 1,443 properties are pending.

Sai Datta, a social activist filed a complaint with Karnataka Lokayukta on July 20, 2017, demanding to organize a land audit from BDA. Justice P Vishwanath Shetty, Lokayukta of the time, directed the BDA to provide data on its properties. The BDA made its land audit public on July 12, 2021, after four years of Lokayukta’s directive.

The land audit, conducted by E1 Technologies, revealed the BDA had acquired 37,168 acres to develop 64 layouts, and buildings were constructed on 7,059 acres acquired after paying compensation to land owners. The report stated the BDA is yet to use 1,171 acres. It also stated that buildings are constructed on 11,399 acres of land notified by the BDA. The audit report stated that 1,207 acres of the notified land are vacant and the BDA is yet to compensate the landowners.

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