Bengaluru: The state government in an affidavit filed before the high court with regard to steps taken by it to expedite the removal of encroachment on government lands across the state, has said that it has removed nearly 10,000 acres encroached land in a span of less than a month.
The state has filed the affidavit in connection with the PIL filed by Namma Bengaluru Foundation stating that government lands have been encroached all over the state, while alleging inaction by the government to clear them.
The affidavit, filed by Umadevi, Under Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, stated that a total of 15,272 acres have been cleared of encroachment as of September 12, as against 5,423 acres on August 20.
It also submitted that 35 acres and 12 guntas have been recovered in Bengaluru Urban district in a month.
“The government is keen on taking action for removal of encroachments. As a matter of fact, the government has already sensitized the district administrations to intensify the removal of encroachment of government lands by taking various steps and persuasions,” the affidavit states.
Meanwhile Mr Sajan Poovayya, the petitioner’s advocate emphasised on the role of Karnataka Public Lands Corporation in the eviction of the encroachments.
He further drew the attention of the court to its previous orders wherein it has been clearly said that the Additional Deputy Commissioner of each district shall submit the progress achieved in the process from time to time to the Karnataka Public Lands Corporation.
“However, the Karnataka Public Lands Corporation has not till date submitted any data to denote the action undertaken by it,” he argued, to which later the court directed the Karnataka Public Lands Corporation to provide a tabular data to denote the action initiated by it.
The court has also directed the Karnataka Public Lands Corporation to make available the data that has been provided to it which includes the survey number of the lands where encroachments have been removed, survey numbers of lands where notices to encroachers have been issued and so on.
The state government has been further directed to collect, collate and computerize all data concerning the reclaimed lands before the next date of hearing. The case has been posted to October 15.
