Facing financial constraints, the Mysuru Urban Development Authority is focused on mobilizing resources and has zeroed in on reclaiming its prime properties, even as it auctions off prime plots. In the six months since its campaign to generate money it has raised Rs 533 crore.
Muda has reclaimed more than 54.25 acres of prime land and 134 sites in six months, which were being occupied from several years.
The recovered properties are estimated to be worth Rs 342.9 crore. 15 acres in Lalithadripura, 19 Gunta, 8.27 acres in Hanchya, 8.31 acres in Hinkal, 6.14 acres in Basavanahalli, 3.27 acres in Sagathahalli and Devanuru. Belavatha Village has been recovered.
The 134 retrieved sites which were illegally occupied by forging documents and constructing structures are worth around Rs 191.5 crore. Officials claimed illegal structures were built at 14 sites in Devanuru, 13 sites in Hinkal, 12 sites in Vidyaranyapuram, 12 sites at Bannimantap and Devanuru sites in Phase II, Paduvana Road in Kuvempunagar, TK. blueprint, Belavatha, Dattagalli and NR Mohalla, Gokulam was demolished and properties recovered.
Muda chairman HV Rajeev told TOI, “We are able to recover properties on the directions of the courts. Some of the land losers had approached the court questioning the acquisition. We were successful in submitting documents to prove the completion of the acquisition,” he said.
Under fire from the public
Muda faced severe criticism from the public for failing to provide compensation for land losers or farmers who acquired land to develop the layout. Muda had acquired land from farmers as part of its program to provide space and houses for people at affordable prices, but failed to pay compensation, forcing the landlords to approach the court. In some cases, courts had issued orders to confiscate Muda’s immovable properties to make up for the loss, embarrassing the authority. This delay in providing compensation to land losers had led farmers to oppose Muda’s plans to acquire their land. Due to this various projects which were planned are still hanging.
